Hydroxycarboxylic acids ketones, cyclic

Oxidation of cyclic ketones by H2O2 in the presence of an acid zeolite was used for the preparation of lactones and u-hydroxycarboxylic acids [124]. Thus, for c-pentanone oxidation in the presence of H-ZSM-5, -valerolactone is obtained with 62.3% selectivity at 40% conversion, whereas 5-hydroxy-pentoic acid is obtained with 34% yield in the presence of Zeolon M. 

Whilst the majority of the discussion thus far has been concerned with metallo-substituted redox molecular sieves, it is important to note that proto-nated zeolite forms can also be employed for selective oxidation with aqueous hydrogen peroxide. An excellent example of this is the study conducted by the Mobil Oil Corporation.52 Their work has shown that a number of protonated zeolites such as H-ZSM-5 or zeolite-/ can be used with hydrogen peroxide to catalyse the oxidation of cyclic ketones to lactones or the co-hydroxycarboxylic acids (Figure 4.12). 

Hydroxycarboxylic acid esters from cyclic ketones... 

Potassium hydroxide and sodium hydroxide Carboxylic acids from cyclic ketones Hydroxycarboxylic acids from 2 ketone molecules Cation specificity... 

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