PROCESS FOR PRODUCING AN OXYGEN-CONTAINING ORGANIC COMPOUND FROM OLEFINS

Abstract: A process for producing an oxygen-containing organic compound by oxidizing olefins under milder conditions is provided, which process comprises oxidizing an olefin acti­ vated by its complex formation, in the presence of a platinum group metal complex capable of forming an olefin complex through coordination of the platinum group metal with said olefin, and also in the presence of water, and further oxidi­ zing and regenerating the resulting reduced platinum group metal complex with oxygen coordinated with a transition me­ tal and activated thereby.

Description: This invention relates to a process for producing an oxygen-containing organic compound from olefins, and more particularly it relates to a process for producing an oxygen-containing organic compound by oxidizing olefins using a platinum group complex in the presence of water and an oxygen complex. As an oxidation reaction for various olefins which has so far been commercially carried out, there is the famous Hoechst-Wacker process (Japanese Patent Publication Nos. 36-1475/1961 and 36-7869/1961). According to the process, a composite catalyst having Pd(2)Cℓ₂ and Cu(2)Cℓ₂ as catalyst components dissolved in a hydrochloric acid solution (pH: 0 to 2) has been used. Description will be made for example referring to an ethylene oxidization reaction. First, ethylene is oxidized by means of divalent palladium and water to form acetaldehyde. The reaction is expressed by the following equation: CH₂ = CH₂ + Pd(2)Cℓ₂ + H₂O → CH₃CHO + Pd(0)↓ + 2HCℓ (1) As seen from the reaction equation, Pd(2) is reduced into metallic palladium (Pd(0)) which precipitates. Thus, by making Cu(2)Cℓ₂ coexistent therewith in a large quantity, it is necessary to oxidize and regenerate Pd(0) into Pd(2) as shown in the following equation: Pd(0) + 2Cu(2)Cℓ₂ → Pd(2)Cℓ₂ + 2Cu(1)Cℓ (2) Difficulty soluble Cu(1)Cℓ by-produced at that time is oxygen-oxidized in the coexistence of HCℓ and returned into Cu(2)Cℓ₂ according to the following equation: 2Cu(1)Cℓ + ½O₂ + 2HCℓ → 2Cu(2)Cℓ₂ + H₂O (3) By employing a redox system of Pd(2)/Pd(0) and Cu(2)/Cu(1) in such a manner, continuous oxidation of ethylene has been made possible, but this oxidation is not a direct oxidation of ethylene with oxygen, but an oxidation by means of Pd(2) ion dissolved in water; hence the oxidation and regeneration of Cu(1)Cℓ becomes a rate-determing step. Further, since the solubility of oxygen in water is low, it must be raised up and therefor the oxygen treatment has been carried out at high temperatures and high pressures such as 100°C and 10 atm. Further, in the case of higher olefins, since the oxidation rate is low to need a longer reaction time, it has been regarded that oxidation of 1-butene or higher olefins has not yet been practically carried out (Tamura, "Catalyst", 21 , 167 (1979)). Still further, since a high concentration of HCℓ aqueous solution is used, a corrosion-resistant material such as titanium, Hastelloy (tradename of product made by Heynes Stellite Co., Ltd.) is required. Thus, the reaction has been carried out at high temperatures and high pressures as described above, so that a process capable of oxidizing olefins under mild conditions has been desired. On the other hand, as to cyclic compounds, cyclopentanone as a representative example of ketocycloparaffins is a useful compound, since it is readily convertible into δ-valerolactone which, when subjected to ring opening polymerization at room temperature, yields nylon-6,10, or sebacic acid which, when subjected to its polycondensation with hexamethylenediamine, yields nylon-6,10. Cyclopentene as its raw material is contained in a C₅ fraction in a mixture obtained by naphtha cracking in a high concentration in the range of 15 to 25% by weight, or it is easily obtained by partial hydrogenation of cyclopentadiene by-produced in a proportion of 2 to 4% at the time of ethylene production (see K. Weissermel and H. J. Arpe, Industrial Organic Chemistry, translated by Mitsuaki Mukohyama, Tokyo Kagaku Dohjin (1978)). Accordingly, if oxidation reaction of cyclopentene into cyclopentanone is commerciallized, this will have a great meaning. According to a cyclopentanone production process via cyclopentene oxidization, which has so far been reported, first the reaction is carried out at a reaction temperature of 50°C, for a reaction time of 2 hours in the presence of a catalyst system of palladium chloride (hereinafter denoted by Pd(2)Cℓ₂) and ferric chloride (FeCℓ₃·6H₂O) in ethanol solvent, to obtain the product with a conversion of 70% and a selectivity of 90%, but the reaction mechanism has not yet been known (Takehira et al, Japan Chemical Society, the 45th Spring Annual Meeting, 4G 19 (1983)). On the other hand, it has already been reported by F. C. Phillips in 1894 that various olefins are oxidized by means of Pd(2)Cℓ₂ in the presence of water the form oxygen-containing compounds (F. C. Phillips, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 16 , 255 (1894)). As to this reaction, since such compounds are prepared in the same manner as in the case of linear olefins described above with regard to Hoechst-Wacker process, the above-mentioned problems of corrosion-resistance and reaction being carried out at high temperatures and high pressures has still been raised. It is an object of the present invention to provide a process for producing an oxygen-containing organic compound having overcome the above-mentioned problems, by oxidizing olefins under milder conditions. The present inventors have previously proposed a process for producing acetaldehyde in a non-aqueous solution system under mild conditions, by directly oxidizing ethylene activated by complex formation, with combined oxygen activated by complex formation, in the presence of a composite catalyst comprising a transition metal complex capable of forming an oxygen complex through coordination of the transition metal with oxygen and a platinum group complex capable of forming an ethylene complex through coordination of the platinum group metal with ethylene (EP-A-0128745 claiming priority from Japanese patent application Nos. 58-104291/1983 and 59-41800/1984). The present invention is based on such a finding made during the above research, that the oxygen complex in the above-mentioned inventions has a capability of oxidizing Pd(0) into Pd(2)Cℓ₂ in the presence of water with a good efficiency. The present invention relates to a process for producing an oxygen-containing organic compound in a water-containing mixed solvent system under mild conditions, which process comprises oxidizing an olefin activated by its complex formation, in the presence of a platinum group metal complex capable of forming an olefin complex through coordination of the platinum group metal with said olefin, and also in the presence of water, further oxidizing and regenerating the resulting reduced platinum group metal complex with oxygen coordinated with a transition metal and activated thereby. Accordingly, the present invention provides a process for producing an oxygen-containing organic compound by oxidizing an olefin in the presence of a metallic catalyst, which comprises as a catalyst component, a composite catalyst comprising a first metallic complex (M m X n ·L ℓ ) capable of forming an oxygen complex by coordination thereof with oxygen, and a second metallic complex (M ' m' X n' ·L' ℓ' ) capable of forming an olefin complex by coordination thereof with said olefin, said M being a transition metal belonging to group I, groups IV-VII or the iron group of group VIII of the Periodic Table, said X being at least one anion selected from Cℓ-, Br-, I-, BF₄-, PF₄, CH₃COO- and SO₄²-, said L as a ligand being an organic phosphorus compound or a nitrile, said L' as a ligand being at least one compound selected from nitriles, organic fluorine compounds and organic phosphorus compounds, said M' being a transition metal belonging to the platinum group of group VIII of the Periodic Table, said m, m' n and n' each being a constant to be determined by balance of the valences of said transition metals and said anion, and said ℓ and ℓ' each being a number of coordination, characterised in that the metallic complex catalyst further comprises as a catalyst component water which acts as an oxidising agent, and is present at an amount of 1.67 mol/ℓ or more in a reaction solution. The present invention will now be described in greater detail by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Fig. 1 shows a figure illustrating the process of the present invention in a model manner; Fig. 2 shows a figure illustrating the process of the prior art (Pd(2)/Pd(0) and Cu(2)/Cu(1) redox process) in a model manner; Fig. 3 shows a chart illustrating the ultraviolet absorption spectra of a complex used in the present invention; Fig. 4 shows a chart wherein change with time in the quantity of Pd(0) oxidized with the 0₂ complex in the present invention is compared with that in the quantity of Pd(0) oxidized with CuCℓ₂ in the Wacker process; and Fig. 5 (A), (B) show figures illustrating the present invention as the synthesis of cyclopentanone in a model manner as compared with the Wacker process. The present invention will be described referring to a representative example. An oxygen complex ((Cu(1)Cℓ·hmpa)₂·O₂) formed from a complex (Cu(1)Cℓ·hmpa) of Cu(1)Cℓ with tris(dimethyl-amino)phosphine oxide (another name: hexamethylphosphoroamide; hereinafter denoted by hmpa) is reacted with e.g. an ethylene complex (Pd(2)Cℓ₂·PhCN·C₂H₄) of a complex (Pd(2)Cℓ₂·PhCN·hmpa) formed from Pd(2)Cℓ₂ and hmpa and benzonitrile (PhCN) in the presence of water, and the reaction is presumed to proceed in the following reaction mechanism: (a) Formation of ethylene complex and oxidation of ethylene: Pd(2)Cℓ₂·PhCN·hmpa + C₂H₄ ⇄ Pd(2)Cℓ₂·PhCN·C₂H₄ + hmpa (4) Pd(2)Cℓ₂·PhCN·C₂H₄ + H₂O → CH₃CHO + Pd(0)↓ + 2HCℓ + PhCN (5) (b) Regeneration of Pd(0): Pd(0) + ½ (Cu(1)Cℓ·hmpa)₂·O₂ + 2HCℓ + PhCN + hmpa → Pd(2)Cℓ₂·PhCN·hmpa + Cu(1)Cℓ·hmpa + H₂O (6) (c) Regeneration of oxygen complex: Cu(1)Cℓ·hmpa + ½O₂ → ½(Cu(1)Cℓ·hmpa)₂·O₂ (7) Fig. 1 shows the catalyst cycle of the present invention in a model manner, and it will be understood that the process is entirely different from Hoechst-Wacker process. Further, as described above, Fig. 3 shows the ultraviolet absorption spectra directed to the complex used in the present invention, and Fig. 4 shows a chart of comparison of change with time in the quantity of Pd(0) oxidized with the oxygen complex in the present invention with that in the quantity of Pd(0) oxidized with CuCℓ₂ in the Wacker process. Further, the specific features of the above respective reactions will be described in more detail. The rate of the oxidation-regeneration of Pd(0) into Pd(2)Cℓ₂ complex at 80°C, shown in the above equation (6), was about 10 times the rate with the above Cu(2)Cℓ₂ (see the equation (2)), as seen in Fig. 4. In addition, if the complex which forms the oxygen complex as described above is expressed by the formula M m X n ·L ℓ , Cu(1)Cℓ·hmpa corresponds to a case where m = 1, n = 1 and ℓ = 1. Further, for example, if Ti(3) or V(3) is made a central metal and the anion is made Cℓ⁻, the resulting complex is Ti(3)Cℓ₃·hmpa or V(3)Cℓ₃·hmpa which corresponds to a case where m = 1, n = 3 and ℓ = 1. Now, Cu(1)Cℓ·hmpa, as shown in the above equation (7) selectively absorbs oxygen from air and is returned to the original oxygen complex, and the rate at 80°C is about 8 times the rate of the above-mentioned re-oxidation reaction of Cu(1)Cℓ with oxygen into Cu(2)Cℓ₂ (the above equation (3)). Thus, when the above ethylene is activated by forming an ethylene complex and reacted in the presence of water, acetaldehyde can be produced from ethylene efficiently. Thus we have made extensive research about various platinum group metal complexes, and as a result, have found that as a representative example, when Pd(2)Cℓ₂ has PhCN, as a modifying ligand further added besides the above hmpa, the following new complex consisting of mixed ligands was formed: Pd(2)Cℓ₂·(hmpa)₂ + PhCN ⇄ Pd(2)Cℓ₂·PhCN·hmpa + hmpa (8) In addition, when this complex is expressed by the formula M' m' X n' ·L' ℓ' , then m' = 1, n' = 2 and ℓ' = 1. This new Pd(2) complex forms, for example, an ethylene complex with ethylene according to the equation (4), and since ethylene is notably activated in the resulting ethylene complex, the oxidation reaction with Pd(2) in the complex (the equation (5)) proceeds readily whereby it is possible to prepare acetaldehyde under mild conditions and in a single step. Pd(2)Cℓ₂·PhCN·hmpa + C₂H₄ → Pd(2)Cℓ₂·PhCN·C₂H₄ + hmpa (4) Pd(2)Cℓ₂·PhCN·C₂H₄ + H₂O → CH₃CHO + Pd(0)↓ + 2HCℓ + PhCN (5) The resulting Pd(0) is easily returned by means of the oxygen complex into the original Pd(2)Cℓ₂ complex. In the case of producing a ketocycloparaffin from a cycloolefin, too, the reaction proceeds in the following mechanism: a) Formation of cyclopentene complex and formation of cyclopentanone by oxidation of cyclopentene: b) Regeneration of Pd(0): Pd(0) + ½ (Cu(1)Cℓ·hmpa)₂·O₂ + 2HCℓ + PhCN + hmpa → Pd(2)Cℓ₂·PhCN·hmpa + Cu(1)Cℓ·hmpa + H₂O (11) c) Regeneration of O₂ complex: Cu(1)Cℓ·hmpa + O₂ → ½(Cu(1)Cℓ·hmpa)₂·O₂ (12) Fig. 5 (A) shows the cycle of the present reaction so as to be readily understandable and in a model manner, which cycle is entirely different from that of Hoechst-Wacker process (see Fig. 5 (B)). The specific features of the respective reactions are almost the same as those in the above-mentioned case of producing acetaldehyde from ethylene; hence the description of the specific feature is omitted here. In the present invention, olefin is activated in the form of its complex, followed by oxidizing olefin by means of the oxidative force of Pd(2) and oxidizing and regenerating the resulting Pd(0) with oxygen activated in the oxygen complex, as described above; hence it is possible to produce corresponding oxygen-containing organic compound under mild conditions such as the atmospheric pressure and 80°C or lower, in a short time, highly selectively and with a high yield. Further since the oxygen-containing compound can be produced according to one step process, it is possible to reduce costs of the apparatus, and utility to a large extent as compared with those of the prior art. In the composite catalyst system of the present invention, as M in M m X n L ℓ as the complex catalyst capable of forming the oxygen complex, transition metals are preferable such as Cu and Ag of group I of the Periodic Table, Ti and Zr of group IV thereof, V and Nb of group V thereof, Cr, Mo and W of group VI thereof, Mn of group VII thereof and Fe and Co of group VIII thereof, etc., and among these, Cu(I), Ti(3) and V(3) are more preferable. Further, as X at least one anion selected from Cℓ⁻, Br⁻, I⁻, BF₄⁻, PF⁻, CH₃COO⁻, SO₄²⁻, etc. are preferable, and among these, Cℓ⁻, Br⁻ and I⁻ are more preferable. Further, preferred examples of the ligand are nitriles and organic phosphorus compounds represented by derivatives of phosphoric acid such as triphenylphosphine oxide, hexamethylphosphoroamide, etc., mono-, di- or tri-ester obtained by reaction of phosphoric acid with methanol, ethanol, etc., further, dimethyl methylphosphonate, methyl dimethylphosphonate, etc., derivatives of phosphorous acid such as mono-, di- or tri-ester obtained by reaction of phosphorous acid with methanol, ethanol, etc., phenylphosphorous acid ester, dimethylphosphinous acid ester, triethylphosphine, triphenylphosphine, etc. Among these, hexamethylphosphoroamide (hmpa) and benzonitrile (PhCN) are particularly preferable. On the other hand, as M' in the complex catalyst (M' m' X n' ·L' ℓ' ) capable of forming the olefin complex, transition metals belonging to Pt group of group VIII of the Periodic Table, particularly Pd and Pt, are preferable. Further, as the ligand L', nitriles such as acetonitrile, propionitrile, benzonitrile, tolunitrile, etc. and the above-mentioned organic phosphorus compounds and further, organic fluorine compounds such as fluorinated toluene, benzotrifluoride, etc. are preferable. Among these, nitriles are particularly preferable. In the formula of the above complex catalysts, m, m', n, n', ℓ and ℓ' are each selected from numbers of 1 to 4. In order to carry out the reaction of the present invention in solution state, a suitable solvent for dissolving the complex capable of forming the oxygen complex and the complex capable of forming an olefin complex may be used, and such a solvent is at least one compound selected from the group consisting of aliphatic, alicyclic or aromatic hydrocarbons, oxygen-containing organic compounds, organic halogen compounds, nitrogen-containing compounds, organic sulfur compounds, organic fluorine compounds and heterocyclic compounds and when L and L' as ligands are liquid, these ligands per se are used as the solvent at the same time with the role of ligands. Concretely, in the case of a linear olefin, various solvents such as heptane, toluene, methylcyclohexane, dioxane, ethylene carbonate, propylene carbonate, methyl isobutyl ketone, ethylene glycol, ethanol, chlorobenzene, N-methylpyrrolidone, tetrahydrofuran, ethers e.g. ethylene glycol dibutyl ether, diethylene glycol monomethyl ether, etc., or mixtures of the foregoing may be used, and when the ligands L or L' are liquid, these may be used as solvent at the same time with the role of ligands. Referring to the case of cyclopentene, preferable solvents are those which dissolve the composite catalyst and at the same time are easy in separation from the resulting cyclopentanone (b.p.: 131°C/760 mmHg), reduce the viscosity of the catalyst solution and promote the mass transfer. As such solvents, at least one selected from various solvents such as methylcyclohexane, methyl isobutyl ketone, ethylene glycol, dioxane, ethylene carbonate, chlorobenzene, N-methylpyrrolidone, ethers e.g. ethylene glycol dibutyl ether, ethylene glycol monomethyl ether, etc., or mixtures of the foregoing may be used, and when the ligands L or L' are liquid, these may be used as solvent at the same time with the role of ligands. In the case of cyclohexene, too, preferable solvents are those which dissolve the composite catalyst and at the same time is easy in separation from the resulting cyclohexanone (b.p.: 156°C/760 mmHg), reduce the viscosity of the catalyst solution and promote the mass transfer. As such solvents, at least one selected from various solvents such as heptane, toluene, methylcyclohexane, methyl isobutyl ketone, ethanol, ethylene glycol, dioxane, ethylene carbonate, chlorobenzene, N-methylpyrrolidone, tetrahydrofuran, ethers e.g. ethylene glycol dibutyl ether, diethylene glycol monomethyl ether, etc. or mixtures of the foregoing may be used, and when the ligands L or L' are liquid, these may be used as solvent at the same time with the function of ligand. Further, in order to enhance the selectivity and yield of the reaction, it is preferred, as shown in Examples mentioned later, to make a basic (electron-donating) compound coexistent with the reaction system, such as sulfolane, dimethylsulfolane, dimethylsulfoxide, dimethylformamide, trimethylmethane, dimethylsulfone, etc. According to the present invention, an olefin coordinated with a platinum group metal complex and activated thereby is oxidized by means of a specified composite catalyst system, without direct contact of the olefin gas with oxygen gas, and further, the resulting reduced platinum group metal is oxidized by oxygen coordinated with a transition metal complex and activated thereby; thus the reaction can be carried out under the atmospheric pressure and in the vicinity of room temperature to produce corresponding oxygen-containing organic compounds with a high selectivity and with a high efficiency. In the present invention, even when air is used as an oxygen source, oxygen is selectively absorbed so that the same effectiveness as that in the case where pure oxygen gas is used can be obtained. Further, since the oxygen absorption is irreversible, it is possible to easily remove excess free oxygen after the oxygen complex has been formed, which is very advantageous in the aspect of safety. The present invention will be described in more detail by way of Examples. Example 1 Into a 100 mℓ measuring flask were fed Cu(1)Cℓ (35 g, 0.35 mol) and hmpa (100 g) to prepare a Cu(1)Cℓ·hmpa complex solution (97 mℓ). Further, into another 100 mℓ measuring flask were fed Pd(2)Cℓ₂ (1.3 g, 7.5 mmols) and PhCN (15.5 g) and hmpa (79 g) to prepare a pd(2)Cℓ₂·PhCN·hmpa complex solution (92 mℓ). Both the solutions were then transferred into a 1 ℓ reactor and sulfolane (392 g) was added thereto to prepare a catalyst solution (500 mℓ) containing 0.7 mol/ℓ of Cu(1)Cℓ and 0.015 mol/ℓ of Pd(2)Cℓ₂, followed by adding water (49 g, 9%) to the solution and introducing air thereinto at 30°C under the atmospheric pressure to prepare a solution having an oxygen complex concentration of 0.145 mol/ℓ. The solution was then heated to 40°C and nitrogen gas was passed therethrough, but only oxygen remaining in the gas phase part of the reactor and physically dissolved oxygen were removed, and no elimination of the combined oxygen from the oxygen complex in the solution was observed, that is, the absorption reaction of oxygen was irreversible. This is very advantageous in the aspect of safety in the practical process. Examples 2 ∼ 9 Experiments were carried out as in Example 1 but under conditions described in Table 1, to obtain the quantities of CH₃CHO produced as shown in the rightest column of the Table, at 40°C in 30 minutes. In view of these facts, there is a tendency that the higher the concentration of PhCN, the larger the quantity of CH₃CHO produced. However, in the case where the sulfolane concentration was 0 mol, the quantity of CH₃CHO lowered. Example 10 Example 8 was repeated except that PhCN was replaced by CH₃CN to obtain 12 g of CH₃CHO. Example 11 Example 8 was repeated except that the reaction temperature was raised from 40°C up to 60°C to obtain 12.8 g of CH₃CHO at a reaction time of 20 minutes. Example 12 Example 8 was repeated except that the concentration of Cu(1)Cℓ was decreased from 0.7 M down to 0.5 M; the PhCN concentration was decreased from 6.0 M to 5.0 M; and the O₂ concentration was raised from 0.35 M up to 1.4 M to obtain 12.7 g of CH₃CHO at a reaction time of 30 minutes. Example 13 Example 8 was repeated except that the quantity of water added was made 15 g (3%) to obtain 9.0 g of CH₃CHO in 30 minutes. Further, in a quantity of water added of 88 g (15%), 8.6 g of CH₃CHO was obtained in 30 minutes. In view of this Example and Example 8, it is considered that a water content in the vicinity of 9% is optimum in the present reaction system. Example 14 Example 8 was repeated except that Cu(1)Cℓ (0.7 M) was replaced by Ti(3)Cℓ₃ (0.7 M) to obtain 9 g of CH₃CHO in 30 minutes. Example 15 Example 8 was repeated except that Cu(1)Cℓ (0.7 M) was replaced by V(3)Cℓ₃ (0.7 M) to obtain 9.6 g of CH₃CHO in 30 minutes. Example 16 Example 8 was repeated except that Pd(2)Cℓ₂ (0.015 M) was replaced by Pt(2)Cℓ₂ (0.015 M) to obtain 12 g of CH₃CHO in 30 minutes. Example 17 The catalyst solution of Example 8 was kept at 40°C and a mixed gas of air (20%) and ethylene (80%) was passed at a flow rate of 0.2 ℓ/min. for 30 minutes to obtain 0.7 g of CH₃CHO. Examples 18 ∼ 29 Example 1 was repeated except that ethylene was replaced by propylene and the reaction temperature (40°C) was replaced by 60°C to obtain quantities of CH₃COCH₃ produced shown in the rightest column of Table 2, in 30 minutes. Example 30 Example 28 was repeated except that the quantity of CuCℓ was raised from 0.7 M up to 1 M to obtain 9 g of acetone at a reaction time of 5 minutes. When the concentration of Cu(1)Cℓ is raised at a specified O₂ concentration, the oxidation rate increases. Examples 31 ∼ 41 Example 1 was repeated except that ethylene was replaced by 1-butene in order to obtain methylethylketone (MEK), the reaction temperature was raised from 40°C up to 60°C, and the reaction time was decreased from 30 minutes down to 20 minutes to obtain results shown in Table 3. Example 42 Example 41 was repeated except that CuCℓ (0.7 M) was replaced CuCℓ (0.5 M); O₂ (0.145 M) was replaced by O₂ (0.125 M); PhCN (6 M) was replaced by PhCN (5 M); and sulfolane (0.35 M) was replaced by its 1.4 M to obtain 17.5 g of MEK. Example 43 Example 8 was repeated except that ethylene was replaced by 1-pentene and the reaction (40°C) was replaced by 60°C to obtain 15 g of 2-pentanone at a reaction time of 10 minutes. Example 44 Example 43 was repeated except that Cu(1)Cℓ was replaced by TiCℓ(3)Cℓ₃ or V(3)Cℓ₃ to obtain 10 g and 11 g of 2-pentanone, respectively. Example 45 Example 43 was repeated except that Cu(1)Cℓ (0.7 M), PhCN (6 M) and sulfolane (0.35 M) were replaced by 0.5 M, 5M and 1.4 M, respectively to obtain 13.5 g of 2-pentanone. Example 46 1-Hexene (4.2 g, 50 mmols) was dissolved in the catalyst solution of Example 8, followed by carrying out the same operation as in Example 1 to prepare an oxygen complex (0.145 mol/ℓ), and keeping the reaction temperature at 60°C to obtain 4 g of 2-hexanone at a reaction time of 10 minutes. Example 47 Example 46 was repeated except that 1-hexene was replaced by 1-heptene (4.9 g) and the reaction time was kept at 80°C to obtain 5.1 g of 2-heptanone at a reaction time of 10 minutes. Example 48 Example 46 was repeated except that 1-hexene was replaced by 1-octene (5.6 g, 50 mmols) and the reaction time was kept at 80°C to obtain 6.3 g of 2-octanone at a reaction time of 10 minutes. From the above results it can be seen that the catalyst solution of the present invention is very effective for oxidizing higher olefins. Example 49 Beads of macroreticulate type styrene-divinylbenzene copolymer (particle diameter 1 mm, specific surface area 700 ∼ 800 m²/g) (50 mℓ) were impregnated with the catalyst solution containing the oxygen complex having a composition shown in Example 8, followed by suction-filtration to prepare a granular catalyst, which was then filled in a hard glass reactor having an inner diameter of 20 mm, heating to 60°C, passing ethylene at a rate of 1ℓ/min. (SV = 1200 h⁻¹) and analyzing acetaldehyde in the exit gas. As a result, the product was acetaldehyde, alone, and its yield based on ethylene was 60% since the reaction start till lapse of 30 minutes. Thereafter the exit gas was recycled to obtain an acetaldehyde yield based on the combined oxygen in the oxygen complex of 90%. Further, ethylene feed was once stopped and air was passed to regenerate the combined oxygen consumed by the reaction, followed by again carrying out the oxidation experiment under the above conditions, to obtain similar results. From the foregoing, it has been clarified that even when the complex catalyst of the present invention is supported on a carrier, the present oxidation reaction by way of the combined oxygen in the oxygen complex proceeds. In addition, as the carrier, it is possible to use a porous carrier such as silicates, active carbon porous glass, etc., and as the treating method after the above impregnation, it has been confirmed that various methods such as passing of heated gas, low temperature calcination, etc. may be employed besides the above suction-filtration. Next, preparation examples of cyclopentanone and cyclohexanone will be described in detail. Examples 50 ∼ 64 are directed to cyclopentanone preparation and Examples 65 ∼ 72, to cyclohexanone preparation. Example 50 Into a 100 mℓ capacity measuring flask were fed Cu(1)Cℓ (35 g, 0.35 mol) and hmpa (100 g) to prepare a Cu(1)Cℓ·hmpa complex solution (97 mℓ). Further, into another 100 mℓ capacity measuring flask were fed Pd(2)Cℓ₂ (1.3 g, 7.5 mmol) and pHCN (15.5 g) and hmpa (79 g) to prepare a Pd(2)Cℓ₂·PhCN·hmpa complex solution (92 mℓ). Both the solutions were then transferred into a 1 ℓ reactor and sulfolane (192 g) was added thereto to prepare a catalyst solution (500 mℓ) containing 20.7 mols/ℓ of Cu(1)Cℓ and 0.015 mol/ℓ of Pd(2)Cℓ₂, followed by adding water (49 g; 9%) and introducing air at 30°C under the atmospheric pressure to prepare a solution having an oxygen complex concentration of 0.145 mol/ℓ. Nitrogen gas heated to 80°C was then passed through the solution, but only oxygen remaining in the gas phase part of the reactor and oxygen physically dissolved in the solution were removed; and no elimination of the combined oxygen from the oxygen complex in the solution was observed, that is, the oxygen absorption reaction was irreversible. This is very advantageous in the aspect of safety in the practical process. After this operation, cyclopentene (20 mℓ) was poured into the solution. It could be confirmed by gas chromatography that cyclopentanone (2.1 g) was formed in 30 minutes. Example 51 ∼ 56 Experiments were carried out as in Example 50 but under conditions indicated in Table 4. The quantities of cyclopentanone formed at 80°C after 30 minutes are shown in the rightest column of Table 4. As seen from the above Table, the quantity of cyclopentanone formed in the case of CH₃CN addition is greater than that in the case of PhCN addition; the higher the CH₃CN concentration, the greater the quantity of cyclopentanone formed; and in the same solution condition, the higher the oxygen concentration, the lower the formation rate of cyclopentanone. Example 57 Experiment was carried out in the same manner as in Example 54 except that the reaction temperature was raised from 50°C up to 80°C, to obtain 3.2 g of cyclopentanone at a reaction time of 15 minutes. Example 58 Experiment was carried out in the same manner as in Example 54 except that the concentration of Cu(1)Cℓ was raised from 0.2 M up to 0.5 M, to obtain 3.0 g of cyclopentanone at a reaction time of 20 minutes. Example 59 In Example 54, the quantity of water added was changed to 15 g (3%) to obtain 2.5 g of cyclopentanone in 30 minutes. Further, when the quantity of water added was changed to 88 g (15%), 2.3 g of cyclopentanone was obtained in 30 minutes. In view of this Example and Example 54, it is considered that in the present reaction system, the water content in the vicinity of 9% is optimum. In addition, as shown in Examples 52 and 53, even in the case of a water content of 0%, cyclopentanone is formed to make water separation unnecessary; hence this may often be advantageous as process. Example 60 Experiment was carried out in the same manner as in Example 55 except that Cu(1)Cℓ (0.2 M) was replaced by Ti(3)Cℓ₃ (0.2 M) to obtain 0.61 g of cyclopentanone in 30 minutes. Example 61 Experiment was carried out in the same manner as in Example 55 except that Cu(1)Cℓ (0.2 M) was replaced by V(3)Cℓ₃ (0.2 M) to obtain 0.72 g of cyclopentanone in 30 minutes. Example 62 Experiment was carried out in the same manner as in Example 54 except that CH₃CN was replaced by PhCN to obtain 0.95 g of cyclopentanone at a reaction time of one hour. Example 63 Experiment was carried out in the same manner as in Example 62 except that the concentration of Cu(1)Cℓ was raised from 0.2 M up to 0.6 M to obtain 1.2 g of cyclopentanone in 30 minutes. Example 64 Experiment was carried out in the same manner as in Example 54 except that 3-methylcyclopentene was poured in place of cyclopentene, to obtain 0.85 g of 1-methyl-3-cyclopentanone in 30 minutes. Example 65 Into a 100 mℓ capacity measuring flask were fed Cu(1)Cℓ (25 g, 0.25 mol) and hmpa (100 g) to prepare a Cu(1)Cℓ·hmpa complex solution (97 mℓ). Further, into another 100 mℓ measuring flask were fed Pd(2)Cℓ₂ (1.3 g, 7.5 mmol) and benzonitrile (hereinafter denoted by PhCN) (15.5 g) and hmpa (60 g) to prepare a Pd(2)Cℓ₂·PhCN·hmpa complex solution (74 mℓ). Both the solution were then transferred into a 1 ℓ capacity reactor, and sulfolane (414 g) was added thereto to prepare a catalyst solution (500 mℓ) containing 0.5 mol/ℓ of Cu(1)Cℓ and 0.015 mol/ℓ of Pd(2)Cℓ₂, followed by adding water (49 g, 9%) and introducing air at 30°C under the atmospheric pressure to prepare a solution having an oxygen complex concentration of 0.145 mol/ℓ, thereafter heating the solution to 80°C and passing nitrogen gas therethrough, but only oxygen remaining in the gas phase part of the reactor and physically dissolved oxygen were removed, and no elimination of the combined oxygen from the oxygen complex in the solution were observed. After this operation, cyclohexene (20 mℓ) was poured at 80°C, and as a result it was confirmed by gas chromatography that 2.5 g of cyclohexanone was formed in 30 minutes. Example 66 In Example 65, PhCN was replaced by acetonitrile (CH₃CN), to obtain 13.2 g of cyclohexanone in 30 minutes. The results of this experiment show a representative example of the above-mentioned indirect oxidation process, and cyclohexanol was formed in a proportion of 2.5% by weight based on cyclohexanone formed. Example 67 In Example 66, the quantity of water added was made 15 g (3%) to obtain 10.5 g of cyclohexanone in one hour. Further, the quantity of water added was made 88 g (15%) to obtain only 9.8 g of cyclohexanone in 30 minutes. In view of this Example and Example 67, it is considered that in the present reaction system, the optimum water content is in the vicinity of 9%. Example 68 Reaction was carried out in the same manner as in Example 66 except that the concentration of Pd(2)Cℓ₂ was made 0.045 mol/ℓ, to obtain 13.5 g of cyclohexanone in 20 minutes. Further, reaction was carried out raising the concentration of Pd(2)Cℓ₂ up to 0.06 mol/ℓ to obtain 13.6 g of cyclohexanone in 20 minutes, this quantity formed being almost unchanged from that in the case of 0.045 mol/ℓ; thus it was confirmed that in the present invention, it is unnecessary to increase the concentration of Pd(2)Cℓ₂ in vain. Comparative exmaple 1 In Example 65, reaction was carried out without adding water to obtain 1.8 g of cyclohexanone in 30 minutes. Comparative example 2 In Example 66, reaction was carried out without adding water to obtain 10.9 g of cyclohexanone in 30 minutes. The cyclohexanone yield lowered down to about 80% of the yield in the case of Example 66. Example 69 Experiment was carried out in the same manner as in Example 66 except that in place of hmpa (60 g), ethylene glycol dibutyl ether (50 g) was added as the solvent for the Pd(2)Cℓ₂·(PhCN)₂ complex, to obtain 12.8 g of cyclohexanone in 30 minutes. Example 70 Experiment was carried out in the same manner as in Example 66 except that in place of hmpa (60 g), diethylene glycol monomethyl ether (60 g) was added as the solvent for the Pd(2)Cℓ₂·(PhCN)₂ complex, to obtain 11.2 g of cyclohexanone in 30 minutes. Example 71 Reaction was carried out in the same manner as in Example 51 except that Cu(1)Cℓ (50 g, 0.5 mol) was fed and the concentration of the oxygen complex was made 0.290 mol/ℓ, to obtain 19.6 g of cyclohexanone in 20 minutes. Example 72 Reaction was carried out in the same manner as in Example 65 except that in place of hmpa (60 g), PhCN (58 g) was fed as the solvent for the Pd(2)Cℓ₂·(PhCN)₂ complex, to obtain 10.7 g of cyclohexanone in 50 minutes.

Claims: A process for producing an oxygen-containing organic compound by oxidizing an olefin in the presence of a metallic complex catalyst, which comprises as a catalyst component, a composite catalyst comprising a first metallic complex (M m X n ·L ℓ ) capable of forming an oxygen complex by coordination thereof with oxygen, and a second metallic complex (M' m' X n' ·L' ℓ' ) capable of forming an olefin complex by coordination thereof with said olefin, said M being a transition metal belonging to group I, groups IV-VII or the iron group of group VIII of the Periodic Table, said X being at least one anion selected from Cℓ⁻, Br⁻, I⁻, BF₄⁻, PF₄⁻, CH₃COO⁻ and SO₄²⁻, said L as a ligand being an organic phosphorus compound or a nitrile, said L' as a ligand being at least one compound selected from nitriles, organic fluorine compounds and organic phosphorus compounds, said M' being a transition metal belonging to the platinum group of group VIII of the Periodic Table, said m, m', n and n' each being a constant to be determined by balance of the valences of said transition metals and said anion, and said ℓ and ℓ' each being a number of coordination, characterised in that the metallic complex catalyst further comprises as a catalyst component water which acts as an oxidising agent, and is present at an amount of 1.67 mol/ℓ or more in a reaction solution. A process according to Claim 1, wherein said organic phosphorus compounds as ligands L and L' are compounds represented by alkoxy, alkyl or amide derivatives of phosphoric acid or phosphorus acid. A process according to Claim 2, wherein said organic phosphorus compounds as ligands L and L' are hexamethyl-phosphoroamide. A process according to Claim 1, wherein said organic phosphorus compounds as ligands L and L' are hexamethyl-phosphoroamide and said M is copper. A process according to any foregoing Claim, wherein said m, m', n, n', and ' are each from 1 to 4 respectively. A process according to any foregoing Claim, wherein a basic (electron-donating) compound represented by sulfolane, dimethylsulfolane, dimethylsulfoxide or dimethylformamide is added to said catalyst. A process according to any foregoing Claim, wherein at least one compound selected from aliphatic, aromatic or alicyclic hydrocarbons, oxygen-containing organic compounds, organic halogenated compounds, nitrogen-containing compounds, organic sulfur compounds, organic fluorine compounds and heterocyclic compounds is used as a solvent for said catalyst. A process according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, wherein said ligands L and L' each are liquid and used per se as a solvent at the same time with the role of ligands. A process according to any foregoing Claim, wherein an oxygen-containing mixed gas is passed through said catalyst in solution form to form an oxygen complex, said olefin is introduced thereinto and the oxidation reaction is carried out in the presence of water. A process according to any one of Claims 1 to 8, wherein said catalyst is dissolved in a solvent, a porous carrier is impregnated with the resulting solution, an oxygen-containing gas is contacted with the resulting carrier and the oxidation reaction is carried out in the presence of water. A process according to any foregoing Claim, wherein said olefin is a linear olefin or a cyclic olefin. A process according to Claim 11, wherein said linear olefin is at least one selected from linear olefins having from 2 to 8 carbon atoms and said cyclic olefin is cyclopentene or cyclohexene.

Inventors: ARIKAWA, YOSHIJIRO, C/O KURE RESEARCH LABORATORY, KAKU, HIROYUKI, C/O KURE RESEARCH LABORATORY, KAMIGUCHI, TAIJI, C/O KURE RESEARCH LABORATORY, TAKAMOTO, SHIGEHITO, C/O KURE RESEARCH LABORATORY, TANIMOTO, HIROTOSHI, C/O KURE RESEARCH LABORATORY, YAMADA, MUTSUO, C/O KURE RESEARCH LABORATORY
Applicants: BABCOCK-HITACHI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Application year: 1986
Main classification: C07C45
IPC codes: C07C45, C07F15, C07C47