| Abstract: | The oxidation of 2,6-di-tert-butylphenol with tert-butylhydroperoxide (ButO2H) has been studied using polymer (XAD4) anchored salicylaldoxime, 1,3-propylene-bis-salicylaldimine and o-phenylene-bis-salicylaldimine complexes of molybdenum and vanadium in acetonitrile. The predominant products formed in the oxidation reactions were 2,6-di-tert-butylbenzoquinone (BQ) and 3,3′-5,5′-tetra-tert-butyldiphenoquinone (dPQ), whereas with some only 2,6-di-tert-butylbenzoquinone was formed. This is the first reported use of polymer anchored molybdenyl and vanadyl complexes in selective oxidation of 2,6-di-tert-butylphenol. Solvent plays an important role in this reaction. The effects of varying the ligand, metal and the support on the catalytic activity in the oxidation of 2,6-di-tert-butylphenol have been studied. With polymer anchored MoO2(salpen), 81% of 2,6-di-tert-butylbenzoquinone was formed from 2,6-di-tert-butylphenol. |
