Fe(III)-EDTA mediated autoxidation of 2,6-Di-t-butylphenol and substituted hydroquinones by molecular oxygen

Fe(III)-EDTA in aq. MeOH offers a simple environmentally acceptable synthetic tool to oxidize 2,6-di- t -butylphenol to 3,3′,5,5′-tetra- t -butyl-4,4′-diphenoquinone by molecular oxygen with 100% selectivity and several alkyl-substituted hydroquinones to their quinones, in excellent yields, under mild conditions.