Selective oxidation of cyclohexene catalyzed by polymer-bound ruthenium-2,2′-bipyridine complexes

Cyclohexene was oxidized to 2-cyclohexen-1-ol and 2-cyclohexen-1-one by atmospheric pressure of molecular oxygen in the presence of linear polystyrene-bound-2,2'-bipyridine-ruthenium complexes in the absence of solvent at 70+/-5 degrees C selectively. The alcohol/ketone molar ratio of the products can be adjusted by employing different additives or by varying the reaction pH. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.