MANGANESE(II) BETA-DIKETONATE CATALYZED OXIDATION OF CYCLOHEXANE BY TERT-BUTYL HYDROPEROXIDE

Oxidation of cyclohexane by tert-butyl hydroperoxide was carried out i n acetonitrile solution at room temperature in the presence of mangane se(II) beta-diketonate complexes, Mn(acac)(2), Mn(acac)(2).2H(2)O, Mn( ba)(2).H2O, Mn(dbm)(2) and Mn(dbm)(2).2H(2)O (where acacH=acetylaceton e, baH=benzoylacetone and dbmH = dibenzoyl-methane), Cyclohexanol and cyclohexanone were obtained as the products. Oxidation of cis-cyclooct ene gave the corresponding epoxide together with two minor byproducts in the presence of Mn(acac)(2).2H(2)O and Mn(dbm)(2).2H(2)O. A mechani stic pathway predominantly involving autoxidation is proposed.