OXIDATION OF 2,6-DI-TERT-BUTYLPHENOL WITH POLYMER ANCHORED MOLYBDENYLAND VANADYL COMPLEXES

The oxidation of 2,6-di-tert-butylphenol with tert-butylhydroperoxide ((BuO2H)-O-t) has been studied using polymer (XAD(4)) anchored salicyl aldoxime, 1,3-propylene-bis-salicylaldimine and o-phenylene-bis-salicy laldimine complexes of molybdenum and vanadium in acetonitrile. The pr edominant products formed in the oxidation reactions were 2,6-di-tert- butylbenzoquinone (BQ) and 3,3'-5,5'-tetra-tert-butyldiphenoquinone (d PQ), whereas with some only 2,6-di-tert-butylbenzoquinone was formed. This is the first reported use of polymer anchored molybdenyl and vana dyl complexes in selective oxidation of 2,6-di-tert-butylphenol. Solve nt plays an important role in this reaction. The effects of varying th e ligand, metal and the support on the catalytic activity in the oxida tion of 2,6-di-tert-butylphenol have been studied. With polymer anchor ed MoO2(salpen), 81% of 2,6-di-tert-butylbenzoquinone was formed from 2,6-di-tert-butylphenol. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.