A new process for the production of trimethylhydroquinone

作者：Zhu H^*; Chen SY

来源：Indian Journal of Chemistry - Section B: Organic and Medicinal Chemistry , 2004, 43(6): 1349-1354.

A new synthetic method for trimethylhyoroquinone(TMHQ), one of main feedstock for synthesis of vitamin E(VE), is reported. All commercial processes for TMHQ is via 2, 3, 6-trimethyl-benzoquinone and has disadvantages in their multi-steps and production of pollutants. To reduce the pollution and to decrease synthesis steps, an attempt has been made to develop a single-step process for TMHQ, i.e. direct hydroxylation of 2, 3, 6-trimethyl-phenol (TMP) with H2O2 over copper hydroxyphosphate (Cu-2(OH)PO4) catalyst. The results show that the catalyst is of high activity for hydroxylation of TMP and high selectivity for TMHQ. Some important factors affecting the catalytic activity and selectivity have been studied. A green process for the production of TMHQ could be developed with deep study.

• 出版日期2004-6
• 单位浙江大学