Polymer support with Schiff base functional group with cobaltous palmitate as oxidation catalyst for cyclohexane Original Research Article

Macroporous cross-linked beads of styrene-divinyl benzene copolymer have been prepared with Schiff base (with one of its components as L-tyrosine) active sites on them. Cobalt palmitate has been chelated with these and the metal does not leach out under the reaction conditions of liquid phase oxidation of cyclohexane. The oxidation of cyclohexane has been carried out using this catalyst with different promoters. Cyclohexanone and cyclohexanol were obtained as products with the former in larger concentration. Experiments reveal that there is no acid formation, demonstrating the specificity of the catalyst. It appears from these studies that the polymer support is playing a significant role in giving these products in high yield.