Molybdenum Complexes as Catalysts for the Oxidation of Cycloalkanes with Molecular Oxygen

A group of new polymolybdates was synthesized and tested in the catalytic oxidation of cycloalkanes. Investigated compounds exhibit broad structural diversity including polymolybdates with isolated anionic clusters (0-dim), polymeric anions (1-dim), Mo–O layers (2-dim) as well as hexagonal and orthorhombic molybdenum oxides (3-dim). All studied molybdenum complexes were found to be active in the reaction conditions yielding ketones and alcohols as main products. In the case of layered compounds (2-dim), dicarboxylic acid was detected in the mixture of reaction products. The structure of investigated molybdenum compounds was shown to have influence on yields and selectivities of the investigated reactions. Anionic layers separation (in 2-dim materials) as well as type and charge of organic cations present in the compounds are prime examples of structural factors influencing the oxidation reactions efficiencies. On the basis of obtained results and literature reports a mechanism for the oxidation of cycloalkanes by polymolybdates has been proposed. Graphical Abstract