abstract |
Provided is a facile three step process for preparing 2-phenylterephthalic acid starting with p-xylene, followed by alkylation, dehydrogenation, and oxidation of the methyl groups corresponding to the origional p-xylene. The product, 2-phenylterephthalic acid, is useful as an intermediate in the synthesis of polyesters comprised of residues of 2-phenylterephthalic acid. |