Oxidation of alkylaromatics to benzylic ketones using TBHP as an oxidant over LaMO3 (M = Cr, Co, Fe, Mn, Ni) perovskites

A series of LaMO3 (M = Cr, Co, Fe, Mn, Ni) perovskites were synthesized by citrate precursor decomposition method and characterized by XRD technique. The catalytic activity of the synthesized perovskites was investigated for the oxidative functionalization of alkylaromatics to benzylic ketones using TBHP as an oxidant. Of various perovskites screened, LaCrO3 exhibited remarkable catalytic activity providing the oxidation of alkylarenes selectively at the benzylic position. The LaCrO3/TBHP catalytic system provides excellent yields of the desired ketones under solvent-free conditions and the catalyst can be successfully used up to six consecutive cycles with no significant loss in activity. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.