Novel solvent free liquid-phase oxidation of β-pinene over heterogeneous catalysts based on Fe3−xMxO4 (M=Co and Mn) Original Research Article

The present work describes a novel oxidation of β-pinene, with either dioxygen or hydrogen peroxide, over heterogeneous catalysts based on magnetite doped with Co or Mn, of general formula Fe3−xMxO4 (M=Mn, Co; x=0–0.75) under solvent free conditions. In this process, β-pinene is converted to the products valuable for perfume and flavor industries, i.e. pinocarveol, pinocarvone, myrtenol and myrtenal, in excellent selectivity of up to 95%. The total concentration of these derivatives in the final mixture reaches 25–30 wt.%. The catalysts undergo no metal leaching and can be easily recovered either magnetically or by filtration and reused several times.