POLYMER-SUPPORTED CATALYST FOR THE EFFECTIVE AUTOXIDATION OF CUMENE TO CUMENE HYDROPEROXIDE

The autoxidation of cumene to cumene hydroperoxide (CHP) in the presen ce of catalyst which was prepared by adsorbing copper(II) acetate onto polymer support, was investigated, When a styrene-divinylbenzene copo lymer with sulfonic acid functional groups was used as a support, the resulting catalyst had no catalytic activity. When a macroreticular ac rylic polymer containing carboxylic acid exchange groups was used as a support, an effective catalyst was obtained. In the presence of this catalyst (0.2 g Cu(OAc)(2)-BR-0.6 per 10 mL of cumene) at 353 K, the s teady autoxidation rate is 84% faster than that initiated with CHP; th e selectivity is 99% at 6.8% conversion. The catalyst is stable at 383 K. Furthermore, the catalyzed cumene autoxidation rate increases line arly with copper acetate loading as well as the amount of catalyst. Bu t when the steady autoxidation rate increases, the selectivity to cume ne hydroperoxide reduces, but is still satisfactory. Hence, it is poss ible to speed up the cumene autoxidation rate by raising the reaction temperature, using catalysts with high metal loading and using more ca talyst.