| abstract |
A diester of 2,5-dihydroxybenzene-1,4-dicarboxylic acid is prepared by the oxidation of a diester of cyclohexane-1,4-dione-2,5-dicarboxylic acid. The oxidation is carried out by molecular oxygen in a non-aqueous polar solvent for the diester of cyclohexane-1,4-dione-2,5-dicarboxylic acid in the presence of a salt. The salt is preferably a transition metal salt which acts as a catalyst for the oxidation reaction and/or an alkali metal carboxylate. |