Highly Selective and Efficient Conversion of Alkyl Aryl and Alkyl Cyclopropyl Ketones to Aromatic and Cyclopropane Carboxylic Acids by Aerobic Catalytic Oxidation. A Free-Radical Redox Chain Mechanism

An efficient and convenient method has been developed for the oxidation of aryl alkyl and cyclopropyl alkyl ketones to aromatic and cyclopropane carboxylic acids by molecular oxygen at atmospheric pressure, catalysed by Mn(NQ3)2 in combination with Co(NO3)2 or Cu(NO3)2. This simple, cheap and highly selective process has a general character for the synthesis of carboxylic acids and it is particularly suitable for industrial applications.