Coupling of aromatic compounds in the presence of molecular oxygen, a mercuric oxyanion compound, and a group VIII metal or group VIII metal oxyanion compound

摘要

A catalytic process in which molecular oxygen is used to couple aromatic compounds to form a variety of polyaromatic compounds is disclosed. The process comprises reacting monoaromatic compounds in the presence of molecular oxygen and a catalyst system comprising a mercuric oxyanion compound, a Group VIII metal, or metal oxyanion compound and optionally a redox reagent consisting of a soluble salt of a multivalent metal having an oxidation potential greater than that of the Group VIII metal.