Benzoic acid, 4-(acetyloxy)- → 4'-Hydroxyacetophenone

Participants

Reaction Steps

The 4-acetoxyacetophenone (4-AAP) used as the starting material for the catalytic oxidation to 4-acetoxybenzoic acid may be obtained as a co-product with the 4-hydroxyacetophenone (4-HAP) produced by the Fries rearrangement of phenyl acetate or the Friedel-Crafts acetylation of phenol, e.g., when the reaction is carried out in the presence of HF and an acid anhydide, or it may be produced from the 4-HAP by reacting the latter with an acetylating agent such as acetic anhydride, as indicated by equation (III), by contacting the 4-HAP with, for example, about 1 to 5 moles of the anhydride per mole of 4-HAP at a temperature, for example, in the range of 120° to 140° C. for a period, for example, in the range of 1 to 4 hours.

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