Abstract:
The invention comprises a method for the oxidation of alkanes to alcohols and for decomposition of hydroperoxides to alcohols utilizing new compositions of matter, which are metal complexes of porphyrins. Preferred complexes have hydrogen, haloalkyl or haloaryl groups in meso positions, two of the opposed meso atoms or groups being hydrogen or haloaryl, and two of the opposed meso atoms or groups being hydrogen or haloalkyl, but not all four of the meso atoms or groups being hydrogen. Other preferred complexes are ones in which all four of the meso positions are substituted with haloalkyl groups and the beta positions are substituted with halogen atoms. A new method of synthesizing porphyrinogens is also disclosed.
Abstract:
Alkanes are catalytically oxidized in air or oxygen using iron-substituted polyoxoanions (POAs) of the formula: H.sub.e-z �(n-C.sub.4 H.sub.9).sub.4 N!.sub.z (XM.sub.11 M'O.sub.39).sup.-eThe M' (e.g., iron(III)/iron(II)) reduction potential of the POAs is affected by selection of the central atom X and the framework metal M, and by the number of tetrabutyl-ammonium groups. Decreased Fe(III)/Fe(II) reduction potential has been found to correlate to increased oxidation activity.
Abstract:
Alkanes are converted to unsaturated carboxylic acids by contacting an alkane with an oxidizing agent and a heteropolyacid or polyoxoanion comprising (1) at least 9 atoms of a first framework metal or metals comprising molybdenum, tungsten or vanadium or combinations thereof and (2) 1 to 3 atoms of a second framework metal or metals comprising zinc or a transition metal different from the first framework metal.
Abstract:
The invention provides novel catalyst compositions, useful in the oxidation of hydrocarbons with air or oxygen to form hydroxy-group containing compounds and in the decomposition of hydroperoxides to form hydroxy-group containing compounds. The catalysts comprise transition metal complexes of a porphyrin ring having 1 to 12 halogen substituents on the porphyrin ring, at least one of said halogens being in a meso position and/or the catalyst containing no aryl group in a meso position. The compositions are prepared by halogenating a transition metal complex of a porphyrin. In one embodiment, a complex of a porphyrin with a metal whose porphyrin complexes are not active for oxidation of hydrocarbons is halogenated, thereby to obtain a haloporphyrin complex of that metal, the metal is removed from the haloporphyrin complex to obtain the free base form of the haloporphyrin, and a metal such as iron whose porphyrin complexes are active for oxidation of hydrocarbons and for the decomposition of alkyl hydroperoxides is complexed with the free base to obtain an active catalyst for oxidation of hydrocarbons and decomposition of alkyl hydroperoxides.
Abstract:
Organic hydroperoxides are decomposed by drying a reaction mixture containing the organic hydroperoxide and an organic solvent and contacting the dried reaction mixture with a metal organic ligand catalyst under hydroperoxide decomposition conditions. An organic co-solvent for the hydroperoxide may also be used.
Abstract:
New compositions of matter comprising cyano-substituted metal complexes of porphyrins are catalysts for the oxidation of alkanes. The metal is iron, chromium, manganese, ruthenium, copper or cobalt. The porphyrin ring has cyano groups attached thereto in meso and/or .beta.-pyrrolic positions.
Abstract:
Olefins are hydroformylated with syngas in the presence of a novel organometallic complex catalyst to form the corresponding aldehydes at high reaction rates and improved selectively of linear aldehydes over branched aldehydes.The novel catalyst comprises an organometallic complex formed from a mixture of(1) a platinum (O) complex containing two bidentate diphosphine, diarsine or distibine ligands; and(2) A Group IVB metal halide.
Abstract:
A process for making a hydroquinone from phenol or substituted phenol wherein the phenol is oxidized in the presence of a copper catalyst to a p-benzoquinone compound and the p-benzoquinone compound is directly hydrogenated without additional catalyst to the corresponding hydroquinone.
Abstract:
Oxidation of methyl benzenes with air or oxygen to form a phenolic acetate and formaldehyde or methylene diacetate may be carried out in the presence of acetic acid, phosphorus pentoxide, benzaldehyde and an acid catalyst. The resulting acetates may then be pyrolyzed to yield phenolic compounds and formaldehyde, respectively.
Abstract:
Equimolar amounts of vinyl acetate and phenol may be prepared by oxidation of ethyl benzene. The catalytic oxidation, of ethyl benzene, when carried out in the presence of acetic anhydride, forms phenyl acetate and ethylidene diacetate. Pyrolysis of these two intermediates yields vinyl acetate and phenol.In a further embodiment of this invention it has been found that persulfate promoters such as potassium persulfate, persulfuric acid, or Caro's dry acid are particularly effective promoters for this oxidation reaction.