Liquid phase ammoxidation of cyclohexanone and/or cyclohexanol

A liquid phase ammoxidation process comprising contacting a reactant comprising a mononuclear cycloaliphatic ketone or alcohol, the cycloaliphatic moiety of said ketone or alcohol having the formula C.sub.n H.sub.2n wherein n is 5 or 6, said cycloaliphatic ketone or alcohol being unsubstituted or substituted with at least one member selected from the group consisting of alkyl having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, phenyl, benzyl, tolyl, xylyl, said reactant containing 5 to 18 carbon atoms, in the liquid phase with molecular oxygen, ammonia and a molybdate catalyst of the following general formula:

• A.sub.a B.sub.b C.sub.c Bi.sub.d [E]P.sub.e F.sub.f Mo.sub.g O.sub.x
• wherein
• A is alkali metal, Tl, Sm or mixtures thereof;
• B is Ni, Co, Mn, Mg, other alkaline earths and Group IIB elements:
• C is Fe, Cr, Ce or mixtures thereof;
• F is Ge, Sn, Al, Ag, Au, Pb, Group VIII elements other than Ni, Co and Fe, V, Tl, In, Ta, rare earth metals or mixtures thereof;
• and
• wherein
• a is 0-4;
• b is 0-20;
• c is 0-20;
• d is greater than 0-20;
• e is greater than 0-5;
• f is 0-10;
• g is 6 to 18;
• and
• x is a number determined by the valence requirements of the other elements present.