Selective oxidation of m-phenoxytoluene to m-phenoxybenzaldehyde with methanol as an additive in acetic acid

With addition of methanol in acetic acid solvent, m-phenoxytoluene could be oxidized to m-phenoxybenzaldehyde selectively by a cobalt bromide catalyst. Paratemters such as the ratio of Co/Br and the reaction time of m-phenoxytoluene oxidation as well as visible spectra of cobalt bromide in acetic acid/methanol solvents, were also investigated. Addition of methanol caused the oxidation of aldehydes to proceed more slowly than it did solely in acetic acid solvent. The decrease of cobaltous-multibromides in acetic acid/methanol solvents was responsible for the improvement in the selective oxidation of m-phenoxytoluene. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.