2,4,6-Trimethylphenol oxidation with ferrous chloride catalyst: Effect of acetoxime addition

Selective oxidation of 2,4,6-trimethylphenol to 3,5-dimethyl-4-hydroxybenzaldehyde with a FeCl2-acetoxime catalyst system is reported. The addition of acetoxime significantly increased the activity and selectivity. A reaction mechanism was employed successfully to explain the experimental results obtained. The activity improvement with the addition of acetoxime was ascribed to its better electron-donating ability, which enhanced the dissociation rate of the intermediate complex.