Oxidation of cycloalkene using supported ruthenium catalysts under solvent-free conditions

The present paper employs supported ruthenium nanoparticles alongside catalytic quantities of the radical initiator, which are proven to be capable of cyclooctene oxidation with green conditions, in the absence of solvent, with air as the main oxidant and without sacrificial reductant. The paper examines the effects of a range of radical initiators and how the products are distributed over time. Furthermore, the paper addresses the reaction pathways to the epoxides and allylic alcohol, the latter being the primary by-product, whilst also analysing the impact of the technique of synthesis, reaction time, and various supports. Catalyst activity can be markedly improved by adopting a sol-immobilization technique to synthesise the catalysts, with retention of selectivity to the epoxide.