Oxidation by a ?H2O2-vanadium complex-pyrazine-2-carboxylic acid? reagent

Abstract

Lower alkanes (ethane, propane,n-butane,n-pentane) are readily oxidized in acetonitrile solvent by H2O2 with vanadate anion — pyrazine-2-carboxylic acid (PCA), as the catalyst at 75 °C and pressures of −3 atm to produce predominantly or exclusively ketones (aldehydes). Isobutane is transformed selectively intotert-butyl alcohol. The oxidation of cyclohexane at 26 °C in acetone or acetic acid is less efficient than in acetonitrile. The reaction does not occur intert-butyl alcohol.