A manganese-based catalyst system for general oxidation of unactivated olefins, alkanes, and alcohols

Abstract

Non-noble metal-based catalyst systems consisting of inexpensive manganese salts, picolinic acid and various heterocycles enable epoxidation of the challenging (terminal) unactivated olefins, selective C–H oxidation of unactivated alkanes, and O–H oxidation of secondary alcohols with aqueous hydrogen peroxide. In the presence of the in situ generated optimal manganese catalyst, epoxides are generated with up to 81% yield from alkenes and ketone products with up to 51% yield from unactivated alkanes. This convenient protocol allows the formation of the desired products under ambient conditions (room temperature, 1 bar) by employing only a slight excess of hydrogen peroxide with 2,3-butadione as a sub-stoichiometric additive.