[OrganicZA]

It is my first year at college studying chemistry. I’d like to ask some advice. My question is: the process of producing thymol from piperitone as per J. Read’s publication in 1924:http://chestofbooks.com/health/aromatherapy/Eucalyptus-Essential-Oils/Preparation-Of-Thymol-From-Piperitone.html shows a yield of about 25% thymol. Can you help me find out if this yield has been improved upon using specifically this ferric chloride reaction. I know there are some fancier transition metal catalysts like palladium and platinum types but these are very expensive, whereas ferric chloride is cheap and easily obtainable. So I want find out if the ferric chloride process has been or can be developed to improve the thymol yield. Thanks in advance

[Dan]

Try searching the usual literature databases - Scifinder and/or Reaxys - you should have access through your institution.