Ethylbenzene oxidation with air catalysed by bis(acetylacetonate)nickel (II) and tetra-n-butylammonium tetrafluoroborate

This paper deals with the liquid-phase oxidation of ethylbenzene (EB) with air to give ethylbenzene hydroperoxide (EBHP), catalysed by bis(acetylaceto nate)nickel(II) and tetra-n-butylammonium tetrafluoroborate, in a stirred t ank reactor, at atmospheric pressure. This catalytic system offers some adv antages over the currently used industrial catalysts, and the use of a quat ernary ammonium tetrafluoroborate has not been reported previously for this reaction. The effects of temperature, stirring speed, and catalysts concen tration on EB conversion and EBHP selectivity and formation kinetic rate ha ve been studied, and the optimal values found are 125 degrees C (at atmosph eric pressure), 1400 rpm and 1.5x10(-4) and 2.0x10(-3) M for bis(acetylacet onate)nickel(II) and tetra-n-butylammonium tetrafluoroborate, respectively. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.