| Abstract: | A direct and highly efficient carboxylation of propane by carbon monoxide into butyric acids (mainly isobutyric and, in a smaller amount, n‐butyric), in the presence of potassium peroxodisulphate (K2S2O8) and in trifluoroacetic acid solution, has been achieved by using a vanadium catalytic system based on CaV{ON(CH(CH3)COO)2}2] (synthetic amavadine), its model compounds CaV{ON(CH2COO)2}2] or VO{N(CH2CH2O)3}] – other simpler vanadium compounds, such as VO(acac)2] or VOSO4, are less active. Overall yields (based on propane) of carboxylic acids up to 70 % and TON values up to 18.4×103 have been reached. The effects of various factors such as the propane and carbon monoxide pressures, temperature, time, catalyst amount and radical traps have been investigated, the reactions are shown to proceed via both C‐ and O‐centred radicals, with K2S2O8 playing the role of an oxidant via a free radical mechanism. |
