The PhD thesis in Chemistry:

“Green oxidation of some main organic functional groups by KMnO₄/CuSO₄.5H₂O”

ABSTRACT

Oxidation is one of widely investigated processes. Although oxidations are main source to cause pollution, their products are high valuable. KMnO₄/CuSO₄ 5H₂O was discovered and used for oxidation of secondary alcohols under heterogeneous conditions in 1979. Investigated results based on “Green Chemistry” principles have shown that KMnO₄/CuSO₄ 5H₂O has oxidized secondary alcohols (yield of ketones: 66-99%), primary alcohols (yield of benzaldehyde derivatives: 95-98%), unsaturated alcohols (yield of unsaturated aldehydes: 51-62%), hydroquinone (yield of p-quinone: 98%), cyclohexene (yield of 2-cyclohexene-1-one: 73%), alkylarenes (yield of ketones: 32-99%), aliphatic sulfides (yield of sulfones: 96-98%), saturated cyclic sulfides (yield of sulfoxides: 72-91%), aromatic sulfides (yield of sulfones: 81-99%), thiols (yield of disulfides: 80-98%), disulfides (yield of thiosulfonates: 60-83%)…Application of this oxidant cooperated with isomerization by KF/Al₂O₃, protection of phenol group by Ac₂O, ester hydrolysis by KF/Al₂O₃ in solventless media successfully improved the synthesis process of benzaldehyde derivatives from allylbenzenes of essential oils.  

NEW RESULTS OF THE THESIS

1. Studying the influences of molar ratio of KMnO₄ and CuSO₄ 5H₂O on the reaction yield and product selectivity of some organic functional groups (alcohols, alkenes, alkylarenes, amines, sulfides, thiols and disulfides) under solvent-free condition (or solvent decreasing condition).

2. Accelerating the reactions by microwave or ultrasound. Comparing the results under conventional heating with them under the new activation methods (microwave and ultrasound).

3. Successfully improving the synthesis pathways of benzaldehydes from natural allylbenzenes.

NEXT RESEARCHING  PLAN:

1. Comparing CuSO₄ 5H₂O with the other inorganic solid supports such as silica gel, alumin, zeolite…

2. Studying on some mechanisms, transition products, electron effects… in order to draw principles for the above investigated groups.