Iron Catalyst Cyclohexane synthesis

Over iron-phthalocyanine encaged in zeolite Y and using tertiary-butylhydroperoxide (t.-BHP) as oxidant, even cyclohexane can be converted to adipic acid. Selectivities of up to 35 % at conversions around 85 % have been reported. Unfortunately, however, a reaction time of 33 hours at 60 °C was required to achieve this conversion. Although the activity of the latter catalyst is certainly much too low to compete with the conventional catalytic systems for adipic acid synthesis, it provides interesting prospects for further developments. For the near future, we perceive that more and more groups will be working in this interesting field of catalysis by zeolite inclusion compounds. 

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