Process for hydroxylating styrene and styrene derivatives

Abstract From the Canadian patent

Styrene, its derivatives substituted in the aromatic nucleus or at the vinyl group by a methyl group or its derivatives substituted at the vinyl group by a hydroxy-methyl group are reacted at a temperature between 40 and 80°C with less than 2 moles of formic acid and less than 2 moles of hydrogen peroxide per mole of double bond to be hydroxylated. Formic acid is applied in a concentration between 20 and 100 percent by weight and hydrogen peroxide in a concentration of less than 50 percent by weight. The concentration of the hydrogen peroxide in the aqueous phase of the reaction mixture is kept below 15 percent by weight during the entire reaction. The corresponding diols and triols are …