PURPOSE: To produce a quinone compound useful as a polymerization inhibitor, an unsaturated polyester stabilizer, intermediate for pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals, etc., in an easily separable state without causing a side reaction by oxidizing a hydroquinone compound in the presence of a small amount of a supported copper salt while repeatedly using the supported copper salt.
CONSTITUTION: This quinone compound is produced by oxidizing (A) a hydroquinone compound with an oxygen-containing gas e.g. in an organic solvent in the presence of (B) a supported copper salt obtained e.g. by adding a bivalent copper salt (e.g. cupric sulfate, cupric halide or cupric acetate) and a carrier such as an inorganic carrier (e.g. alumina, silica gel or florisil) to a polar solvent capable of dissolving the copper salt (e.g. water or alcohol) and removing the solvent from the solution e.g. by evaporation. The amount of the component B is preferably 0.005-1.0 equivalent in terms of the copper salt based on 1 equivalent of the component A and the oxidation reaction is carried out preferably at 40-300°C.
YONEHARA YOSHITOMO
BOKU SHIYOUSHIN
