Montedison S.p.a.

Consiglio Nazionale Delle Ricerche

Instituto Guido Donegani S.p.a.

Mario Gambaro

Carlo Venturello

Marco Ricci

Method for the preparation of ketones, by means of oxydation of the corresponding secondary alcohols, characterized in that said alcohols are catalytically oxidized by H.sub.2 O.sub.2 inside a two-phase system comprising:

Method for the preparation of ketones

A process for the preparation of water-soluble vicinal diols by means of a direct catalytic hydroxylation of the corresponding olefines with H.sub.2 O.sub.2. An olefine possibly carrying functional groups inert under the reaction conditions, and whose corresponding vicinal diol is soluble in water, is made to react, under vigorous stirring, with H.sub.2 O.sub.2 at a temperature between 0.degree. and 120.degree. C. and at a pressure between 1 and 100 atmospheres, in a two-phase aqueous liquid/organic liquid system consisting or consisting essentially of an acid aqueous phase containing H.sub.2 O.sub.2 and of an organic phase containing (1) said olefine; (2) possibly a solvent immiscible with the aqueous phase; and (3) a catalyst of the formula:

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Novara, Italy

Mario Gambaro