Autoxidation, metalloporphyrins

Metalloporphyrins catalyze the autoxidation of olefins, and with cyclohexene at least, the reaction to ketone, alcohol, and epoxide products goes via a hydroperoxide intermediate (129,130). Porphyrins of Fe(II) and Co(II), the known 02 carriers, can be used, but those of Co(III) seem most effective and no induction periods are observed then (130). ESR data suggest an intermediate cation radical of cyclohexene formed via interaction of the olefin with the Co(III) porphyrin this then implies possible catalysis via olefin activation rather than 02 activation. A Mn(II) porphyrin has been shown to complex with tetracyanoethylene with charge transfer to the substrate (131), and we have shown that a Ru(II) porphyrin complexes with ethylene (8). Metalloporphyrins remain as attractive catalysts via such substrate activation, and epoxidation of squalene with no concomitant allylic oxidation has been noted and is thought to proceed via such a mechanism (130). Phthalocyanine complexes also have been used to catalyze autoxidation reactions (69). 

In some cases metalloporphyrins have been found to catalyze the autoxidation of alkanes or the alkyl groups of other saturated hydrocarbons (alkylaromatics, cycloalkanes, etc.) [85]. Typically,... 

The autoxidation of isobutane is now mainly carried out to obtain terf-butyl hydroperoxide [36]. Halogenated metalloporphyrin complexes are reported to be efficient catalysts for the aerobic oxidation of isobutane [18,37]. It was found that the oxidation of isobutane by air (lOatm) catalyzed by NHPI and Co(OAc)2 in benzoni-trile at 100 °C produced tert-butyl alcohol in high yield (81%) along with acetone (14%) (Eq. (6.3)) [38]. 2-Methylbutane was converted into the carbonacetic acid, rather than the alcohols, as prindpal products. These cleaved products seem to be formed via P-sdssion of an alkoxy radical derived from the decomposition of a hydroperoxide by Co ions. The extent of the P Scission is known to depend on the stability of the radicals released from the alkoxy radicals [39]. It is thought that the 3-scission of a terf-butoxy radical to acetone and a methyl radical occurs with more difficulty than that of a 2-methylbutoxy radical to acetone and an ethyl radical. As a result, isobutane produces terf-butyl alcohol as the principal product, while 2-methylbutane affords mainly acetone and acetic acid. 

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