COMPARISON BETWEEN POLYNUCLEAR IRON AND RUTHENIUM CARBOXYLATE COMPLEXES IN THE SELECTIVE CATALYSIS OF HYDROCARBON OXYGENATION BY O2-ZINC INPYRIDINE ACETIC-ACID

Investigations carried out on the catalysis of cyclohexane oxygenation by O2-zinc in pyridine-acetic acid solution by polynuclear mu-oxo ace tato metal complexes have shown that the Ru complexes, [Ru3O(O2CCH3)3( py)2(CO)] and [Ru2O(O2CCH3)2(py)6](ClO4)2 exhibit selectivity to the a lcohol whereas the iron complex [Fe3O(O2CCH3)6(py)3.5] and, to a lesse r extent, its triruthenium analogue [Ru3O(O2CCH3)6(py)3] exhibit selec tivity more to the ketone.