Abstract
Catalytic reduction of p-toluenesulfonic acid derivatives and p-toluenesulfinic acid with molybdenum sulfide catalyst at high prsssure and their reductive cleavages have been investigated.
Although the temperature of reaction became higher in order of p-toluenesulfonyl chloride, sulfinic acid, ethyl ester, amide, 4nd phenyl ester, even the last phenyl ester was almost completely cleaved to toluene at 300°C and it was indicated that the reduction was proceeded much easier than sulfonic acid.
The final product was toluene and the yield was higher than 80% in case of amide and phenyl ester but the yield was lower in case of chloride, ethyl ester and sulfinic acid.
By consideration of the fact that p-thiocresol and di-p-tolyl disulfide were obtained as the intermediate products in each case, the reductive cleavage was assumed to proceed through the following reductive condensation reactions: p-toluenesulfonic acid derivatives→sulfinic→acid→disulfide→thiocresol→toluene.
