Hydroxylation of alkanes by hydrogen peroxide: and efficient system using manganese porphyrins and imidazole as catalysts

Abstract

High conversions of alkanes into alcohols and ketones were obtained by using H₂O₂ as an oxidizing agent and a Mn-prophyrin as the catalyst in the presence of imidazole; yields between 40 and 85% for oxidation of cyclohexane, cyclo-octane, adamantane, and various compounds containing a benzylic C-H bond by diluted aqueous H₂O₂ were obtained within 2 h at 20°C without significant destruction of the catalyst.