MAGNESIUM OXIDE-SUPPORTED POLYTITAZANE COPPER(II) COMPLEX-CATALYZED AEROBIC BAEYER-VILLIGER OXIDATION OF KETONES AND CYCLOHEXANOL IN THE PRESENCE OF BENZALDEHYDE

Magnesium oxide-supported polytitazane copper complex is prepared and found to be a very effective catalyst for the Baeyer-Villiger oxidatio n of ketones and cyclohexanol in the presence of an aldehyde as a redu ctant under an atmospheric pressure of oxygen at room temperature. The delta-valerolactone and epsilon-caprolactone can be obtained in high than 97% yield. The reactivity of ketones decreases as fellow: cycloke tones > acetophenone > aliphatic ketone. It is found that cyclohexanol is selectively oxidized to epsilon-caprolactone in 77% yield and 89% selectivity by the above combined catalytic system. The catalyst is al so very stable and can be reused at least six times without loss of it s activity.