THE METAL-CATALYZED AUTOXIDATION OF TETRALIN: III. CATALYSIS BY MANGANESE, COPPER, NICKEL, AND IRON

Abstract

The catalysis of the autoxidation of tetralin by the decanoates of manganese, copper, nickel, and iron has been examined over a large concentration range at 50 °C. With all four metals the oxidation rate approaches a limit at high catalyst concentrations but in each case this limit is smaller than the theoretical maximum rate of oxidation of pure tetralin (Y. Kamiya etal. Can. J. Chem. 41, 2020 (1963)). However, upon dilution with an inert solvent, such as chlorobenzene, or with the metal acetates, acetic acid, the theoretical maximum rate is attained. The low limiting rates in pure tetralin are apparently due to the low solubilities of the catalysts and are not due to chain termination by the catalysts.