Platinum meso-tetraphenylporphyrin (Pt(II)TPP) mediated the efficient oxidation of alkyl aromatics to ketones in the presence of tert-butyl hydroperoxide

A highly efficient and selective protocol for the oxidation of alkyl aromatics with tert -butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) oxidant over platinum meso -tetraphenylporphyrin (Pt( II )TPP) was developed. Various alkyl aromatics were selectively converted to ketones smoothly with yields higher than 90% under the optimized conditions. Kinetic studies revealed that the oxidation was first-order with respect to the substrate, and the activation energy ( E a ) was 50.8 kJ mol −1 . Moreover, a mechanism involving high-valence platinum species and free radicals was proposed.