Photochemical Hydroxylation of Salicylic Acid Derivatives with Hydrogen Peroxide, Catalyzed with Fe(III) and Sensitized with Methylene Blue

Abstract

Substitution of hydrogen in the carboxy or hydroxy group of a salicylic acid molecule with a methyl group, which hinders the coordination of Fe(III), results in a pronounced reduction of photocatalytic effects. The complex of Fe(III) with salicylic acid is the precursor of the thermal catalyst arising on irradiation.