Oxidation of tertiary amines using octacyanomolybdate or iron (III) salts as catalysts

摘要

A process for the catalytic oxidation of nonaromatic tertiary amines to the respective amine oxides is disclosed. An aqueous solvent system containing the tertiary amine is formed with an initial pH about equal to or greater than the pKa of the tertiary amine. This aqueous system is contacted with gaseous molecular oxygen at an oxygen partial pressure of at least about 50 psi and a temperature of at least about 80 DEG C. in the presence of certain octacyanomolybdate or iron (III) salts. The resulting oxidation converts the tertiary amine to the respective amine oxide in good yield.