Hydrogen Peroxide → 2,5-Cyclohexadiene-1,4-dione, 2,3,5-trimethyl-

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Reaction Steps

500 mg of 2,3,6-trimethylphenol and 30 mg of the catalyst prepared in Example 6 were added to 5 ml of acetic acid, and 1 g of a 30% hydrogen peroxide aqueous solution was further added at room temperature. The mixture was stirred for 6 hours. After the completion of the reaction, the catalyst was removed by filtration, and the acetic acid solution was washed with an aqueous solution of NaHCO3 and extracted with ether. After drying over MgSO4, the solution was concentrated, and the residue was eluted through a silica gel column with dichloromethane, whereby 515 mg (94% yield) of trimethylbenzoquinone was obtained. The physical properties of the product (yellow needle-like crystals as crystallized from hexane, having a melting point of 28° C.) corresponded to the values identified in the literature [Org. Syn. 52, 83 (1972].

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