Highly Efficient Direct Carboxylation of Propane into Butyric Acids Catalyzed by Vanadium Complexes

• Published in: Advanced synthesis & catalysis Vol. 349; no. 10; pp. 1765 - 1774
• Main Authors: Kirillova, Marina V., da Silva, José A. L., da Silva, João J. R. Fraústo, Palavra, António F., Pombeiro, Armando J. L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Weinheim WILEY-VCH Verlag 02.07.2007; WILEY‐VCH Verlag; Wiley
• Subjects: butyric acids; carboxylation; Chemistry; Chemistry, Applied; Chemistry, Organic; homogeneous catalysis; Physical Sciences; propane; Science & Technology; vanadium complexes; OXIDATION; REAGENT; butyric acids; propane; O-2-H2O2-VANADIUM DERIVATIVE-PYRAZINE-2-CARBOXYLIC ACID; ACETIC-ACID; SATURATED-HYDROCARBONS; FUNCTIONALIZATION; METHANE; homogeneous catalysis; vanadium complexes; C-C BOND; carboxylation; CHEMISTRY; ALKANES
• ISSN: 1615-4150; 1615-4169
• DOI: 10.1002/adsc.200600575

A direct and highly efficient carboxylation of propane by carbon monoxide into butyric acids (mainly isobutyric and, in a smaller amount, n‐butyric), in the presence of potassium peroxodisulphate (K2S2O8) and in trifluoroacetic acid solution, has been achieved by using a vanadium catalytic system based on Ca[V{ON(CH(CH3)COO)2}2] (synthetic amavadine), its model compounds Ca[V{ON(CH2COO)2}2] or [VO{N(CH2CH2O)3}] – other simpler vanadium compounds, such as [VO(acac)2] or VOSO4, are less active. Overall yields (based on propane) of carboxylic acids up to 70 % and TON values up to 18.4×103 have been reached. The effects of various factors such as the propane and carbon monoxide pressures, temperature, time, catalyst amount and radical traps have been investigated, the reactions are shown to proceed via both C‐ and O‐centred radicals, with K2S2O8 playing the role of an oxidant via a free radical mechanism.