PROCESS FOR THE HYDROXYLATION OF AN AROMATIC COMPOUND

1 . A process for the hydroxylation of an aromatic compound comprising at least one alkoxy group, comprising:

(a) reacting said aromatic compound comprising at least one alkoxy group with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of a catalyst, in a solvent comprising water, an alcohol or a mixture of alcohols, wherein:

the catalyst is a zeolite comprising titanium, and

the alcohol is chosen from alcohols having 1 to 6 carbon atoms and comprises a tertiary or quaternary carbon atom.

2 . The process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the zeolite is selected from the group consisting of MFI, MEL, TS-1, TS-2, Ti-MWW, and Ti-MCM68.

3 . The process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the alcohol is selected from the group consisting of isopropanol, 2,2-dimethylpropanol, and tert-butanol.

4 . The process as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the solvent comprises a co-solvent selected from the group consisting of water, acetone, acetonitrile, 1,4-dioxane, and other alcohols.

5 . The process as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:

(b) purifying the composition obtained after step (a).

6 . The process as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:

(c) shaping the composition obtained after step (a) or (b) in the form of an amorphous or crystallized powder, of balls, of beads, of pellets, of granules, or of flakes.

7 . A hydroxylated aromatic compound comprising at least one alkoxy group obtained by the process defined in claim 1 .

8 . The process as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the zeolite is TS-1.

9 . The process as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the solvent comprises a co-solvent selected from water, methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, n-propanol, n-butanol, and tert-butanol.