Composition catalysts of ethylbenzene oxidation based on bis(acetylacetonato)nickel(ii) and phase transfer catalysts as ligands 2. Quaternary ammonium salts

New composition catalysts based on bis(acetylacetonato)nickel(II) and ammonium salts, R₄NBr (Me_4NBr,n-C₁₆H₃₃Me₃NBr) for selective oxidation of aromatic hydrocarbons to the appropriate hydroperoxides have been introduced. It is demonstrated that the rate, selectivity, and degree of conversion of ethylbenzene to -ethylphenylhydroperoxide in this case are significantly higher than those observed for monodentate and macrocyclic ligands used as activating additives. The data obtained are in good agreement with the suggestion that the selective catalyst is formed in the course of ethylbenzene oxidation as a result of regioselective interaction of dioxygen with the -carbon atom of the acetylacetonate ligand controlled by R₄NBr.For communication 1 see Ref. 1.Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 8, pp. 1412–1417, August, 1994.