LOW-TEMPERATURE SELECTIVE CATALYTIC-OXIDATION AND NITRATION USING ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY REAGENTS

The selective oxidation of benzyl, phenylethyl and phenoxybenzyl alcoh ols can be performed using metallic nitrates supported on clays. It is shown here that similar or better yields can be achieved by simple ad dition of iron, bismuth or copper nitrates and a dealuminated or a nat ural clay to the reaction mixture, instead of their supported equivale nt. The acid catalytic role of the clay is suggested by its concentrat ion effect on the reaction rate. These observations open up new opport unities for easy scale-up of selective oxidation of fragile organic co mpounds such as phenoxybenzyl alcohol. The selective nitration of 4-hy droxybenzaldehyde also gives good yields with the same catalytic syste m.