Catalytic production of aryl alkyl hydroperoxides by manganese complexes

摘要

This invention relates to a process for preparing organic hydroperoxides by selectively oxidizing aryl alkyl hydrocarbons to their corresponding organic hydroperoxides using as a catalyst certain tetranuclear manganese complexes. The process is carried out without appreciable decomposition by the catalyst of the resulting organic hydroperoxides, and without oxidation by the catalyst of other hydrocarbons present in the starting mixture. The process of the present invention is useful for producing organic hydroperoxides, which themselves are useful as starting materials for a number of commercial reactions, for example, phenol and acetone production.