A critical dependance upon molecular constraints is found for the aerial, free radical, shape-selective oxidation of cyclohexane (see picture). The oxidation occurs at the FeIII sites inside the framework of FeAlPO molecular-sieve catalysts. Oxidation of cyclohexane with the catalyst FeAlPO-5 produces predominantly cyclohexanol and cyclohexanone, but with FeAlPO-31 adipic acid is produced.
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Dugal et al. (2000) studied this question.