Alkane Oxidation with H2O2 Catalyzed by OsO4-carboxylate Adduct and Its Application to Heterogeneous Catalyst

Cyclohexane is selectively oxidized to cyclohexyl hydroperoxide (P) by the reaction with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in the presence of a catalytic amount of osmium tetroxide (OsO4). The product is converted to cyclohexanol (A) by the treatment with PPh3. The catalytic reactivity of OsO4 is enhanced by adding a coordinative anion such as benzoate anion. Encouraged by this result, we have developed an OsO4-immobilized heterogeneous catalyst using mesoporous silica (SBA-15) containing carboxylate groups on the surface.