Organic-water interfacial autowidation of tetalin was investigated was investigated using surface-active ligand complexes of transition metals (Cr, Ni, Mn, and Co) as catalysts, tetralin as the substrate and organic phase, and dodecyl so-dium sulfate as an emulsifier. The major products formed under the experimental conditions of 60℃ and 1 atm, were α-tetralone and α-tetralol and the highest selectivity of 71% to the desired product α-tetralone was achieved with nickel-tetraethylenepentamine complex. The optimum ligand to catalyst ratio was established. to be 2:1 for the improved reaction rate and phase separation. The organic-water phase volume ratio around which the maximum reaction rate was attained was 2:1. The reaction order with respect to oxygen shifted from first to zero as its partial pressure increased, and the reaction order with respect to nickel catalyst concentration varied from 1.7 to 1, and subsequently to 0 with further increases in the metal concentration.

Biphasic Synthesis Surface-Active Ligand Transition Metal Complex Autoxidation Tetralin

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