Sulfuric Acid → 2,5-Cyclohexadiene-1,4-dione, 2,3,5-trimethyl-

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Reaction Steps

A solution of 13.6 g (100 mmol) of 2,3,6-trimethylphenol in 40 ml of acetic acid and a solution of 32.3 g (250 mmol) of 70% by weight aqueous tert-butyl hydroperoxide in 20 ml of acetic acid were simultaneously added dropwise to a stirred solution of 0.68 g (2.0 mmol) of iron 5,14-dihydrodibenzo[b,i][5,9,14,18]tetraaza[14]annulene and 0.5 ml of concentrated sulfuric acid in 50 ml of acetic acid at 40° C. with cooling. The reaction mixture was then subjected to steam distillation. The distillate was extracted by shaking with methylene chloride. The organic phase was shaken with aqueous sodium bicarbonate solution and then with water, separated from the aqueous phase, dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered and concentrated to a yellow oil, which slowly solidifed. 14.0 g (93%) of 2,3,5-trimethyl-p-benzoquinone were obtained in the form of yellow oily crystals.

Provenance & Evidence