Oxidation of saturated hydrocarbons by tert-butyl hydroperoxide in the presence of transition metal compounds

Abstract

1. The acetylacetonates of V(III), V(IV), Cr(III), and Co(II), the stearates and caproates of Cu(II), Mn(II), Fe(II), and Co(II), and the carbonyl derivatives of Cr, Mn, and Rh catalyze the selective oxidation of nonane, cyclohexane, and diphenylmethane by tert-butyl hydroperoxide to the isomeric ketones. 2. tert-Butoxyl radicals do not take part in the oxidation of hydrocarbons.