Catalytic Activity of Tetraarylporphyrins in the Oxidation Reactions of Saturated Hydrocarbons

The oxidation of cyclic hydrocarbons by potassium peroxymonosulfate catalyzed by the iron and manganese complexes of tetra-(4-N-butylpyridinium)porphyrin, tetraphenylporphyrin, and mixed porphyrins containing phenyl and butylpyridyl substituents was studied in an aqueous acetonitrile medium. The test catalysts were dissolved in the reaction medium or adsorbed on layered aluminosilicates. It was found that the immobilization of metal complexes on layered aluminosilicates, as well as the bromination of porphyrins, decreased the activity of catalysts in a number of cases, although it improved their stability. The addition of pyridine in an equimolar amount with respect to metal complexes to the reaction mixture increased the activity of dissolved manganese complexes. An increase in the number of butylpyridyl meso-substituents in a porphyrin molecule improved the catalytic activity of a metal complex.