Oxidation process using metal nitro complex

Abstract

A new liquid phase oxidation process in which a metal nitro complex transfers an oxygen atom from the nitro ligand to a substrate; especially such process conducted cyclically or catalytically using molecular oxygen as the oxygen source. Metal nitrosyl complex is formed as a coproduct together with an oxidation product of the substrate. In a catalytic process, molecular oxygen maintains a concentration of nitro ligand in the reaction mixture. In a cyclic process, nitrosyl ligand of the metal nitrosyl coproduct is reoxidized by molecular oxygen in presence of a monodentate base such as pyridine to nitro ligand; and the nitro complex, thus regenerated, can be used again to oxidize the substrate, In particular the metal is a Group VIII metal, especially cobalt and the nitro complex is pyridine cobalt nitro saloph. To accelerate oxidation of the substrate at given temperature, a cocatalyst is included in the reaction mixture, e.g. an organic complex of a transition metal such as Mo(VI), Pd(II), or a compound of a trivalent metallic element with an element of Group VII, such as the compound BF.sub.3.