| abstract |
Phenolic compounds, e.g., the phenols and phenol ethers, are selectively hydroxylated whereby the amounts of the final product para isomer are enhanced, for example in favor of hydroquinone versus pyrocatechol in the event of the hydroxylation of phenol, by reacting such phenolic compounds with hydrogen peroxide, advantageously in a polar, aprotic, organic solvent reaction medium, in the presence of a catalytically effective amount of a sulfonated polymer and a cocatalytically effective amount of an aromatic ketone compound. |