PURPOSE: To obtain quinones in a high yield under mild reaction conditions using molecular oxygen as an easy-to-handle and safe oxidizing agent by carrying out the reaction between a naphthalene derivative and oxygen molecules in the presence of a specific complex and an aldehyde.
CONSTITUTION: The compound is obtained by carrying out the reaction of a naphthalene derivative of the formula I (R1-R8 are H, straight or branched alkyl or aryl) with molecular oxygen in the presence of a canadium (IV) complex of the formula II (R9-R11 are H, aryl, halogen) and an aldehyde of the formula: R12CHO (R12 is a straight or branched alkyl, an aryl or an alkenyl) such as crotonaldehyde. The reaction is preferably carried out in a solvent such as acetone at -30 to +50°C. In another case, the reaction is carried out in the presence of a peroxide such as peracetic acid and the vanadium (IV) complex to attain the practical reaction rate recommendably.
TAKAI TOSHIHIRO
HATA EIICHIRO
YAMADA TORU
Next Patent: PREPARATION OF ACID CHLORIDE AND ACID AMIDE