Direct Oxidation of Cycloalkanes to Cycloalkanones with Oxygen in Water

Abstract

It doesn′t take much to oxidize cycloalkanes directly to the corresponding cyclic ketones: molecular oxygen as the oxidant, water as the solvent, the cofactor NADP+ (and a little 2-propanol to reduce it), as well as two catalytic enzymes—a hydroxylating P450 monooxygenase and an alcohol dehydrogenase (see scheme).