Cobalt(III)-oxo cubane clusters as catalysts for oxidation of organic substrates

Abstract

Transition metal coordination complexes play a vital role as catalysts in the oxidation of organic substrates including renewable chemicals in an economically viable and environmentally friendly way. Here we highlight the preparation, characterization and application of oxo-cubane complexes of cobalt(III) as oxidation catalysts using air and water as oxidants. Cobalt(III)-oxo complexes of the type Co4O4(O 2CR)4L4 have been prepared by a general method and these have been characterized by analytical, spectroscopic, electrochemical and crystallographic methods. These soluble complexes have shown promising utility as catalysts in the aerobic oxidation of side chains of alkylaromatic hydrocarbon compounds. Oxidation of neat ethylbenzene has shown very high conversion and selectivity for acetophenone formation. On the other hand, oxidation of p-xylene has been found to yield both p-toluic acid and terephthalic acid. It is also possible to oxidize p-xylene in an aqueous medium under moderate applied O2 pressure. Selective epoxidation of α-pinene with air as the oxidant also takes place with the cobalt(III)-based homogeneous catalysts. © Indian Academy of Sciences.