Ruthenium-catalyzed oxidation of alkenes, alkynes, and alcohols to organic acids with aqueous hydrogen peroxide

Chem Asian J. 2006 Sep 18;1(3):453-8. doi: 10.1002/asia.200600091.

Abstract

A protocol that adopts aqueous hydrogen peroxide as a terminal oxidant and [(Me3tacn)(CF3CO2)2Ru(III)(OH2)]CF3CO2 (1; Me3tacn = 1,4,7-trimethyl-1,4,7-triazacyclononane) as a catalyst for oxidation of alkenes, alkynes, and alcohols to organic acids in over 80% yield is presented. For the oxidation of cyclohexene to adipic acid, the loading of 1 can be lowered to 0.1 mol %. On the one-mole scale, the oxidation of cyclohexene, cyclooctene, and 1-octanol with 1 mol % of 1 produced adipic acid (124 g, 85% yield), suberic acid (158 g, 91% yield), and 1-octanoic acid (129 g, 90% yield), respectively. The oxidative C=C bond-cleavage reaction proceeded through the formation of cis- and trans-diol intermediates, which were further oxidized to carboxylic acids via C-C bond cleavage.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adipates / chemistry
  • Alcohols / chemistry*
  • Alkenes / chemistry*
  • Alkynes / chemistry*
  • Carbon / chemistry
  • Carboxylic Acids / chemistry
  • Catalysis
  • Chemistry, Pharmaceutical / methods
  • Cyclohexenes / chemistry
  • Hydrogen Peroxide / chemistry*
  • Hydrogen Peroxide / pharmacology
  • Models, Chemical
  • Oxidants / chemistry
  • Oxygen / chemistry
  • Oxygen / metabolism
  • Ruthenium / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Adipates
  • Alcohols
  • Alkenes
  • Alkynes
  • Carboxylic Acids
  • Cyclohexenes
  • Oxidants
  • cyclohexene
  • Carbon
  • adipic acid
  • Ruthenium
  • Hydrogen Peroxide
  • Oxygen