Oxidation of ketones
AssigneeSolvay Interox Limited
InventorsScott William Brown, Alexander Johnstone, William Ronald Sanderson
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Abstract
A process for the catalysed oxidation of ketones to esters or lactones with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of a carboxylic acid or anhydride is provided. The process employs gamma alumina as a heterogeneous catalyst. In certain preferred embodiments the catalyst also contains a tungsten-containing heteropolyacid. Preferably, the heteropolyacid contains phosphorus. In a related process, the catalyst accelerates the formation of percarboxylic acid solutions.
Claims28
In a process for the oxidation of ketones comprising the reaction of a ketone with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of a solvent and employing a heterogeneous catalyst, the improvement wherein the solvent comprises a carboxylic acid or anhydride and the catalyst comprises gamma alumina.
In a process for the oxidation of ketones comprising the reaction of a ketone with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of a solvent and employing a heterogeneous catalyst, the improvement wherein the solvent comprises a carboxylic acid or anhydride and the catalyst comprises gamma alumina and a tungsten containing heteropolyacid having the empirical formula M.sub.3/n PW.sub.12 O.sub.40 when brought into contact with the gamma alumina, in which M represents hydrogen or other counterion, and n is its basicity in the general formula.
In a catalysed process for the production of a percarboxylic acid by reaction between a carboxylic acid or anhydride and hydrogen peroxide, the improvement wherein the catalyst comprises gamma alumina.
In a process for the in situ generation of percarboxylic acid by reaction between a carboxylic acid or anhydride and hydrogen peroxide in the presence of a catalyst, the improvement wherein the catalyst comprises gamma alumina.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.