Oxidation of substituted phenols with the ClO2—VO(acac)2 system.

The oxidation of a series of alkylphenols (alkyl is methyl and/or isobornyl) with chlorine dioxide using the VO(acac)2 as the catalyst was studied. In the presence of VO(acac)2, the selectivity to quinones increases and the yield of oxidative chlorination products decreases significantly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]