Liquid Phase Catalytic Oxidation Of The Side Chain Of Toluene Derivatives

As a clean and relatively cheap oxidant, oxygen/air receives more and more interest. In this dissertation, the liquid phase oxidant of p-nitrotoluene and 2,4-dimethylnitrobenzene with oxygen/air to aromatic acid was discussed. Under basic conditions p-nitrotoluene was oxidized to p-nitrobenzoic acid with oxygen or air. The reaction parameters, such as reaction temperature, reaction time, substrate concentration were optimized and 75% of p-nitrobenzoic acid was obtained under proper conditions. 2,4-Dimethylnitrobenzene was oxidized to 3-methyl-4-nitrobenzoic acid with oxygen in the presence of catalyst under high pressure. The yield of 3-methyl-4-nitrobenzoic acid is 50% under proper condition and is higher than the literature yield of 27%. The process has potential utility in the industry for the manufacture of 3-methyl-4-nitrobenzoic acid, an intermediate for Telmisartan. The mechanism of the oxidation reaction was also discussed.