A Complexation Promoted Organic N‐Hydroxy Catalytic System for Selective Oxidation of Toluene

Abstract

Abstract Complexation was innovatively utilized to design a novel catalytic system for the selective oxidation of toluene, which runs contrary to the traditional definition of organic metal complex catalysis. In the present system, an N‐heteroaromatic ring‐containing N‐hydroxy compound acts as the catalytically active component. Through an electron‐withdrawing effect produced by the occurring complexation with proper metal salts, which was characterized by real‐time in situ Fourier transform infrared spectra, the activity of the organic molecule could be remarkably improved. The combination of copper(II) chloride with 6‐hydroxy‐pyrrolo[3,4‐ b ]pyrazine‐5,7‐dione showed the best activity, and an inert hydrocarbon such as toluene could be efficiently transformed with 70.9% conversion and 93.5% selectivity to benzoic acid at 90 °C within 2 h.