Kinetic studies on homogeneous oxidation of olefins with palladium(II) catalysts

Abstract

The oxidation of oct-1-ene by p-benzoquinone, catalysed by bis(benzonitrile)dichloropalladium(II), has been studied kinetically in mixtures containing 20% water and one of the following: 1,2-dimethoxyethane, diglyme, tetrahydrofuran, dioxin, or acetone. The results are similar for reactions in the aqueous-ether solvents and are consistent with a mechanism basically similar to those currently under discussion for the catalytic oxidation of lower olefins in aqueous solution. The corresponding reaction of oct-1-ene in aqueous acetone is complicated by interactions between acetone and the palladium(II) catalyst.