Chemical Industry-Hydroxylation

Hydroxylation of olefins

The hydroxylation of olefins is the addition of hydrogen peroxide across a double bond, to produce a diol. H₂0₂ is a powerful hydroxylation agent applied for olefins and aromatic nuclei.  Where the epoxide is formed as an intermediate, the diol product is usually trans- with respect to the olefin.

Long-chain aliphatic vic-diols and their derivatives have properties which make them useful as modifiers in protective coatings, plastics, lubricants, waxes, emulsifiers, and textile finishing agents.

Many conversions take place with high yield and high purity under relatively mild conditions. The conditions used for hydroxylation are generally more vigorous than for the intermediate epoxidation reaction.

Hydroxylation using hydrogen peroxide is applicable to all olefins including those with electron withdrawing groups attached.

Transformations can yield either the anti- or the syn- product. They can be carried out in either alkaline or acidic media.

Hydroxylation of the aromatic nucleus

Hydroxylation of the aromatic nucleus is also possible and is used on an industrial scale to produce hydroquinone and catechol.

  Advantages of peroxygen systems

• Percarboxylic acids are highly reactive and easy to use. They may be used in-situ, preformed as an equilibrium product, as a distilled acid or aqueous solution, in an organic solvent or in solid form.

• Metal catalysed hydroxylations reduce the effluent loading of these systems compared to stoichiometric metal oxidant systems.

• Alkaline peroxide is relatively inexpensive, convenient to use and can be applied in the hydroxylation of a variety of electron deficient olefins.

For a more detailed discussion on this application of peroxygen technology please contact us

	INTEROX CG 35
	INTEROX CG 50
	INTEROX CG 60
	INTEROX CG 70
	INTEROX ST 35
	INTEROX ST 50
	INTEROX ST 60
	INTEROX ST 70

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