Exploring the oxidation of 3,5-di-tert-butylcatechol and 2-aminophenol in the presence of O2 from air: towards valuable organic compounds

Abstract: The selective oxidation of 3,5-di-tert-butylcatechol and 2- aminophenol in the presence of molecular oxygen represents a crucial step in the synthesis of valuable organic compounds. However, conventional methods often use expensive metal catalysts and generate unwanted by-products, presenting environmental and economic challenges. This study explores the use of organic catalysts for this reaction, aiming to develop an environmentally friendly and economically viable method. The results demonstrate that organic catalysts can promote the selective conversion of substrates into desired products, thereby reducing the production of by- products and offering a sustainable alternative to traditional methods. Our results show that: For the oxidation of 2-aminophenol, the L6/CoCl2 complex exhibited the highest oxidation rate of 38.843 μmol.L-1.min-1, while the L1/Cu(CH3COO)2 complex had the lowest rate of 2.00 μmol.L-1.min-1. on the other hand, For the oxidation of 3,5-Di-tert- butylcatechol, the L6/CoCl2 complex also displayed the highest rate at 8.354 μmol.L- 1.min-1, and the L3/CuSO4 complex the lowest at 1.00 μmol.L-1.min-1.This promising approach paves the way for significant advances in the synthesis of valuable organic compounds, while meeting contemporary environmental and economic imperative