abstract |
ACCORDING TO THE INVENTION 2,3,6-TRIMETHYLHYDROQUINONE IS PREPARED FROM 2,3,6-TRIMETHYLPHENOL, BY SULFONATION OF 2,3,6-TRIMETHYLPHENOL, OXIDATION OF THE 2,3,6TRIMETHYLPHENOL-4-SULFONIC ACID FORMED AND DIRECT REDUCTION OF THE TRIMETHYLQUINONE IN AQUEOUS SOLUTION TO TRIMETHYLHYDROQUINONE; SAID SULFONATION IS CARRIED OUT IN AN ORGANIC SOLVENT WHICH IS NOT MISCIBLE WITH WATER AND IS INERT TO THE SULFONATING AGENT. THE OXIDATION IS CARRIED OUT IN AQUEOUS PHASE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN ORGANIC SOLVENT WHICH IS INERT TO THE OXIDIZING AGENT, AND IN WHICH THE QUINONE FORMED IS SOLUBLE AND THE HYDROQUINONE FORMED BY REDUCTION IS INSOLUBLE. |