Abstract

Catalytic batch oxidation runs of an hydrophobic high molecular weight alcohol (docosanol) to the acid were performed using a functionalized ionic liquid composed by an Aliquat®336 cation and a polyperoxometalate {PO4[WO(O2)2]4}3- anion as a catalyst. The active oxygen is efficiently transferred by the catalyst from the aqueous to the alcoholic phase in accordance with an experimentally validated reaction scheme. Only the hydrogen peroxide was used effectively as an oxidant, giving an 81 % conversion and a 55% yield after 6 hours at 90°C, with a H2O2/alcohol molar ratio that equal 3 and an alcohol/catalyst mass ratio that equal 100. The calculated kinetic constants, at 90°C, for the docosanol oxidation to the aldehyde intermediate and the further oxidation towards docosanoic acid were 0,26 and 1,3 L mole -1 h-1, respectively.