NEW CATALYTIC-SYSTEMS FOR SELECTIVE OXIDATION OF AROMATIC-COMPOUNDS BY HYDROGEN-PEROXIDE

Some new water-soluble catalytic systems based on iron complexes of po lyethylene oxide and block copolymers of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide functionalized by catechol or beta-cyclodextrin have been develo ped. These complexes were examined as catalysts for biomimetic hydroxy lation of benzene and phenol by hydrogen peroxide. It is shown that th e introduction of beta-cyclodextrin into the polyethylene oxide molecu le is favourable for rate and selectivity of hydroxylation of aromatic compounds in a two-phase system. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All r ights reserved.