| abstract |
A method for oxidizing an aromatic compound having an alkyl substituent, characterized in that the aromatic compound having an alkyl substituent is reacted with molecular oxygen in the presence of a catalyst comprising a carrier and, carried thereon, Ag and/or Au, and, optionally, one or more of 8 Group elements, to thereby oxidize the alkyl substituent into an aldehyde group. The above oxidation method allows the production of an aromatic aldehyde compound or an aromatic carboxylic acid ester via this aromatic aldehyde compound in high yield and with high selectivity, even when use is made of an aromatic compound having an alkyl substituent being apt to form an aromatic carboxylic acid through oxidation as a starting material, due to the use of a catalyst having a moderate activity. |