The catalytic oxidation of organic compounds in superacids

Transformations of aromatic and aliphatic organic substances in anhydrous trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) at room temperature were studied. TFA was found to be capable of activating molecular oxygen dissolved in it. This activated oxygen endows the acid with strong oxidizer properties. Transformations of organic substances in TFA involved the formation of peroxo compounds, and alkylaromatic molecules were only oxidized at the benzene ring, side chains remaining intact. The transformations of toluene and p-xylene in trifluoroacetic acid were similar in a way to the biochemical oxidation of these substrates by mono-and dioxygenases. Mechanisms were suggested for the oxidation of toluene, p-xylene, and propylene by active oxygen in superacids.