Undecatungstophospho(aqua)ruthenate(II): One pot synthesis, characterization and non-solvent liquid phase aerobic oxidation of alkenes

Keggin type undecatungstophospho(aqua) ruthenate(II) was synthesized by the reaction of [PM12O40](3) (aq) and RuCl3 (aq) under mild conditions and characterized by various physicochemical techniques. The catalytic activity of the synthesized complex was evaluated for non-solvent liquid phase oxidation of styrene, cyclohexene and cis-cyclooctene using molecular oxygen. The synthesized complex acts as an efficient catalyst, especially for oxidation of cyclohexene. It shows very high activity for oxidation of cyclohexene in terms of conversion as well as selectivity. It gives 69% conversion with 100% selectivity for cyclohexane oxide. (C) 2009 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.