Organic Catalysts. III. The Catalytic Action of Copper-Iron-Polyphthalocyanine on the Oxidation of Acetaldehyde Ethylene Acetal

Copper-iron-polyphthalocyanine shows catalytic activity on the oxidation of acetaldehyde ethylene acetal with oxygen at 30°C; this catalytic activity is remarkably dependent on the atomic ratio of copper to iron ions involved and on the activation energy of the electrical conductivity of copper-iron-polyphthalocyanine. The catalytic oxidation of acetaldehyde ethylene acetal with oxygen in the presence of copper-iron-polyphthalocyanine gives, selectively, ethylene glycol monoacetate as the main reaction product, together with small amounts of ethylene glycol diacetate, ethylene glycol, acetaldehyde, and acetic acid. This catalyst is also effective in the selective oxidation of cumene and benzaldehyde ethylene acetal.