CATALYTIC OXIDATION OF HYDROXY CONTAINING AROMATIC COMPOUNDS

The present invention relates to a process for the catalytic oxidation of hydroxy containing aromatic compounds to form the respective quinone compounds comprising contacting a hydroxy containing aromatic compound of the formula: (see fig. I) with a molecular oxygen containing gas in the presence of: (a) a catalytic amount of a cobalt (II) compound, (b) a primary aliphatic amine having the nitrogen atom attached to a tertiary carbon, and (c) an alcohol selected from the group consisting of methyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, butyl alcohol, 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol and benzyl alcohol, wherein X is selected from the group consisting of -OH, or (see fig. II) and R is individually selected from the group of radicals consisting of hydrogen, an alkyl having from about 1 to about 18 carbon atoms, an alkoxy having from about 1 to 8 carbon atoms, a phenyl and an aralkyl having 7 to 12 carbon atoms.