Efficient Synthesis of Camphorquinone from Camphor

Abstract

In this study, we discussed an efficient approach for the synthesis of camphorquinone from camphor by the continuous reaction of bromination and oxidation. The oxidation of 3-bromocamphor was catalyzed by Fe-porphyrins with air. The catalytic activity of iron-metallated functional porphyrins was investigated under optimization conditions. The results showed that this method was a milder alternative to the reported methods, with a simple, greener procedure in which the advantages were the utilization of air as the oxidant and the use of metalloporphyrins as catalysts.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

Keywords:

• 3-Bromocamphor
• camphor
• camphorquinone
• Fe-porphyrin
• oxidation

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This work was financially supported by the Natural Sciences Foundation of Beijing (No. 200710005002) and the Key Projects in the National Science and Technology Pillar Program during the Eleventh Five-Year Plan Period (No. 2008Z × 10001-015).

Notes

^a Fe-porphyrin catalyst is not used in entry 1.