COMPOSITION CATALYSTS OF ETHYLBENZENE OXIDATION BASED ON BIS(ACETYLACETONATO)NICKEL(II) AND PHASE-TRANSFER CATALYSTS AS LIGANDS .2. QUATERNARY AMMONIUM-SALTS

New composition catalysts based on bis(acetylacetonato)nickel(II) and ammonium salts, R(4)NBr (Me(4)NBr, n-C(16)H(33)Me(3)NBr) for selective oxidation of aromatic hydrocarbons to the appropriate hydroperoxides have been introduced. It is demonstrated that the rate, selectivity, a nd degree of conversion of ethylbenzene to alpha-ethylphenylhydroperox ide in this case are significantly higher than those observed for mono dentate and macrocyclic ligands used as activating additives. The data obtained are in good agreement with the suggestion that the selective catalyst is formed in the course of ethylbenzene oxidation as a resul t of regioselective interaction of dioxygen with the gamma-carbon atom of the acetylacetonate ligand controlled by R(4)NBr.