Process for the preparation of aryloxyacetic acid

Abstract From the Canadian patent

Process for the preparation of an aryloxyacetic acid by oxidation of aryloxyethanol of the formula: wherein, m represents 1 or 2, n represents the numeral which results from the difference between 6 and m and R either individually or independently of one another represents hydrogen alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, aralkyl, alkoxy cyclo-, alkoxy, aryloxy, halogen, alkylcarbonyl aryl-, carbonyl, carboxyl or nitro, or represents a benzene ring fused to the phenyl ring, in an aqueous alkaline reaction medium at a temperature in the range of 0°C to the boiling point of the reaction medium in the presence of a catalytic amount of a catalyst comprised of palladium, silver and optionally antimony, and …