Oxidation of cyclopentene catalyzed by phosphotungstic quaternary ammonium salt catalysts

A series of phosphotungstic quaternary ammonium salts, Q₃ (PW₁₂O₄₀) and Q₃(PW₄O₁₆) Q = (C₅H₅)N⁺(C₁₆H₃₃), (C₁₆H₃₃)N⁺(CH₃)₃, (C₄H₉)₄N⁺, and (CH₃)₄N⁺], were used as the catalysts in oxidation of cyclopentene. The catalysts (C₅H₅)N(C₁₆H₃₃)]₃(PW₄O₁₆) and (C₁₆H₃₃)N(CH₃)₃]₃(PW₄O₁₆) showed high catalytic activity in the selective oxidation of cyclopentene while using H₂O₂ (50%) as an oxidant and 2-propanol as a solvent. The oxidation products mainly consisted of glutaraldehyde, cis-1,2-cyclopentanediol and trans-1,2-cyclopentanediol. The above-mentioned two catalysts were dissolved completely in the reaction medium during the catalysis process and precipitated themselves from the reaction system after reaction, showing the characteristics of reaction-controlled phase-transfer catalysis. The types of quaternary ammonium cations and the phosphotungstic anions in phosphotungstic quaternary ammonium salts affected catalytic activity.