Anthraquinone is an important and widely used chemical. It is used as a raw material for the production of vat dyes, as a seed dressing, pesticide and an additive in the chemical alkaline pulp processes in the pulp and paper industry. One of the methods used for the production of anthraquinone is the oxidation of anthracene. This process involves extreme reaction conditions and use of hazardous reagents such as concentrated HNO<sub>3</sub> or chromic acid (a hexavalent chromium compound that is carcinogenic). Development of a greener oxidation of anthracene to anthraquinone is therefore of great interest. The simple VO(acac)<sub>2</sub> complex has been studied as catalyst for the oxidation of anthracene to anthraquinone in acetyl acetate using the green oxidant, hydrogen peroxide. The resultant catalytic mixture is biphasic. This aqueous biphasic medium provides the possibility to easily recover and reuse the catalyst, an aspect of great importance to green chemistry. Therefore, in this study, we have attempted to determine which layer, aqueous or organic, retains the catalyst and how efficient the catalyst can be recovered and recycled. In addition to results on the robustness of the catalyst, we will present data on the nature of the catalytically active species and the effect of pH on the catalysis.

Oxidation of anthracene catalyzed by a recyclable vanadium(IV) oxide complex using hydrogen peroxide in an aqueous biphasic medium

249th National Meeting (2015)

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