Oxygenation of diphenyl methane to diphenyl ketone catalyzed by silica-supported gamma-(2,2 '-dipyridyl)-aminopropylsiloxane-methyltrioxorhenium complex

Silica-supported gamma-(2,2'-dipyvidyl)-aminopropylsiloxane-methyltrioxorhe nium complex was prepared and characterized by IR. The complex with an Re c ontent of 0.45 mmol/g teas an effective catalyst for the oxygenation of dip henyl methane when decahydronaphthalene was used as solvent. Decahydronapht halene was a co-reductant for the oxygenation of diphenyl methane. The suit able reaction temperature was 100 degrees C. The yield of diphenyl ketone c an amount to 70.8% with 84.1% selectivity within 11 hr. (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.