Abstract
Baeyer Villiger oxidation of cyclohexanone to ε-caprolactone was studied over Sn/MCM-41 catalysts. Effects of Sn loading on MCM-41 and solvent were studied. Dependence of reaction temperature and H2O2 concentration were also investigated. The products were ε-caprolactone (the target molecule), δ-hexanolactone and γ-caprolactone. The yield and selectivity of ε-caprolactone were increased with the loading of Sn up to 15 wt% on Sn/MCM-41. At a higher loading, the yield and selectivity were decreased. The higher yield and selectivity of ε-caprolactone were observed in acetonitrile solvent than in MTBE, ethylene glycol or 1,4-dioxane. High reaction temperature and high concentration of H2O2 brought about decrease of the yield and selectivity of ε-caprolactone. The highest yield of ε-caprolactone (10 %) was obtained on 15 wt% Sn/MCM-41 at 343 K in acetonitrile at 2 of cyclohexanone/ H2O2 ratio.
