Interox Chemicals Limited

Solvay Interox Gmbh

Martin Jeff

Philip J Turner

William R Sanderson

Alexander Johnstone

Kenneth T Rowbottom

Miranda Service

Kevan M Reeve

Vincent I Routledge

Oxidation of alkylaromatics

Selective bromination of alkylarenes to the alpha monobrominated derivative is desirable as a precursor for the selective production of, for example, the corresponding alcohols. The product can be obtained by a photolytic reaction between the substrate, hydrogen peroxide and hydrogen bromide in approximately equimolar ratios in an organic solvent, but improvement in the yield of the product coupled with similar or improved selectivity in its production was either not achieved or was actually impaired by a range of variations in the ratios and by omitting the solvent. The invention employs mole ratios of H.sub.2 O.sub.2 :substrate of 0.1:1 to 0.4:1, preferably 0.2:1 to 0.33:1 and of H.sub.2 O.sub.2 :bromide of 1:1.2 to 1:2, preferably about 1:1.3 to 1:1.8 and progressive introduction of the H.sub.2 O.sub.2, either in the presence or absence of the solvent, while irradiating with light preferably having principal emissions in the range of 250 to 600 nm, and the process thereby achieves either or both of improved yield and improved selectivity of the alpha monobrominated product. The reaction mixture is preferably maintained at 50.degree. to 70.degree. C. The process is especially suitable for deactivated alkylarenes, such as o-nitrotoluene.

Bromination

Selective bromination of alkylarenes to the alpha dibrominated derivative is desirable as a precursor for the selective production of, for example, the corresponding aromatic aldehyde. Improvements in the extent of selectivity of the product and/or its rate of production can be obtained by employing a photolytic reaction between the substrate, hydrogen peroxide and hydrogen bromide using mole ratios of H.sub.2 O.sub.2 : substrate of about 2.8:1 or higher, preferably 3,2: to 3.5:1 and of bromide:substrate of over 2.5:1, preferably about 2.8:1 to 3.2:1 and progressive controlled introduction of the H.sub.2 O.sub.2, the reaction being carried out in the presence of a substantial amount of an organic solvent, and preferably more than 5.5 volumes per volume of substrate, whilst irradiating with light preferably having principal emissions in the range of 250 to 600 nm. The reaction mixture is preferably maintained at 50.degree. to 60.degree. C. The reaction often takes from 5 to 12 hours, of which period hydrogen peroxide is introduced progressively into the reaction mixture during preferably the first 3 to 5 hours. The process is especially suitable for deactivated alkylarenes, such as o-nitrotoluene.

Oxidation of alcohols to ketones using bromine suffers from a side reaction of comparable speed in which a bromide substituted product is formed. Additionally, the use of bromine as reagent is relatively unpleasant and it creates a major waste disposal problem. The latter problem can be solved by generating bromine in situ by reaction between hydrogen peroxide and bromide ions or hydrogen bromide, but this inevitably increases the exposure of the alcohol to HBr/Br.sup.-. The selectivity of the process towards non-substituted oxidation depending upon the inherent deactivation or reactivity of the alcohol can be improved by irradiating the reactants with light of suitable frequency to generate bromine radicals in the mixture, and/or by controlling the rate of introduction of the hydrogen peroxide and controlling the extent to which mole ratio of HBr:alcohol is substoichiometric. Selectivity can also be improved by employing a two-phase reaction mixture, the alcohol being present to a considerable extent in the organic phase with HBr/Bromide being retained to a great extent in the aqueous phase. It is particularly beneficial for the selective oxidation of alcohols that are substituted by adjacent electronegative groups, for example chloropropanols.

Oxidation process

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Houston, TX, United States of America

Martin Jeff