Biphasic interfacial synthesis of a-tetralone using nickel-tetraethylenepentamine complex catalysts

초록

A biphasic reaction technique based on the use of surface-active catalyst complexes has been extended to the commercially useful autoxidation of tetralin. This technique in which a surface-active complexing agent or ligand is used to draw the catalyst to the organic-water interface where it effects the desired reaction offers the following advantages over the corresponding homogeneous or heterogeneous reactions : the avoidance of the use of a toxic or environmentally-troublesome solvent, ease of catalyst recovery and substrate recycle, and the attainment of high reactivity, selectivity and reproducibility under mild reaction conditions.