Liquid-Phase Oxidation of Some Aromatic Aldehydes, Hydrocarbons, and Alcohols by Cerium(IV) Catalyzed by Iridium(III) in Acidic Medium

Abstract

Addition of traces of iridium(III) chloride with cerium(IV) sulfate (catalyst–substrate ratio (1:2994 to 1:10,000) in traditional water-bath heating resulted in the oxidation of p-chlorobenzaldehyde, p-nitrobenzaldehyde, benzyl alcohol, p-methoxy benzyl alcohol, p-xylene, and p-nitrotoluene dissolved in acetic acid to give 77%, 90%, 21.7%, 88.6%, 86.2%, and 18% yields of the products, respectively, while catechol and resorcinol polymerized. Oxidation of aldehydes and alcohols resulted as usual in the corresponding acids and aldehydes, respectively, while p-xylene and p-nitrotoluene gave p-tolualdehyde and p-nitrobenzoic acid. Conditions were obtained for getting the highest yields under the experimental conditions.

Keywords:

• Catalyst
• cerium(IV) sulphate
• iridium(III) chloride
• oxidation

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

P. B. D. is grateful to the University Grants Commission [F.No. 2-48/2001(II) EU.II and F-32-240/2006 (SR)], New Delhi, India, for financial assistance. Help from Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, India, is acknowledged for spectral studies on a payment basis.