
%0 Journal Article
%A Watson, KG 
%A Serban, A 
%T Evaluation of the Elbs Persulfate Oxidation Reaction for the Preparation of Aryloxyphenoxypropionate Herbicides
%J Australian Journal of Chemistry
%D 1995/08/01
%V 48
%N 8
%P 1503-1509
%K 
%R https://doi.org/10.1071/CH9951503
%U https://www.publish.csiro.au/paper/CH9951503 
%X A new, simple method for the preparation of several 4-( aryloxy )phenols (2a-d) and alkyl 2-(4-hydroxyphenoxy)propionates (3a,b) is described. These compounds are key precursors for the synthesis of important aryloxyphenoxypropionate herbicides (1a-d). The method uses the Elbs  persulfate oxidation to convert phenol into 4-hydroxyphenyl sulfate (5). The free hydroxy group is then reacted with various aryl halides and alkyl 2-halopropionates. Mild hydrolysis of the sulfate group with boiling acetic acid then gives the products (2a-d) and (3a,b), generally in modest to good yield. 
