Catalytic conversions in water: Part 13. Aerobic oxidation of olefins to methyl ketones catalysed by a water-soluble palladium complex – mechanistic investigations Original Research Article

Water-soluble palladium(II) bathophenanthroline is a stable, recyclable catalyst for the selective aerobic oxidation of terminal olefins to the corresponding 2-alkanones in a biphasic liquid–liquid system. Kinetic measurements indicate that the active catalyst is a homogeneous mononuclear species.