Oxidation of Cyclohexane to Adipic Acid Using Fe−Porphyrin as a Biomimetic Catalyst

A one-pot oxidation from cyclohexane to adipic acid has been developed, catalyzed by Fe−porphyrin in the presence of molecular oxygen without any additives. When the reaction temperature is 140 °C, oxygen pressure is 2.5 MPa, concentration of catalyst is 1.33 × 10 - 5 mol %, and reaction time is 8 h, the yield of adipic acid reaches 21.4%. A turnover number of about 24582 is thus far the highest one among those reported for the direct oxidation from cyclohexane to adipic acid.