Oxidation of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene by dioxygen. Effect of the free radical initiators 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-1-naphthylhydroperoxide and 2,2'-azobis(2-methylpropionitrile) on the reaction catalyzed by 2,4-pentanedionates of 3d transition metals

The effect of the free radical initiators 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-1-naphthylhydroperoxide and 2,2'-azobis(2-methylpropionitrile) on the oxidation of 1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene (tetraline) by dioxygen catalyzed by Cr(III), Mn(III), Fe(III), Co(II), Co(III) and Cu(II) 2,4-pentanedionates (acac) has been investigated. It has been found that the addition of a free radical initiator can increase the rate of catalyzed oxidation or decrease it. Which effect will operate depends on the kind of the catalyzing transition metal ion and its oxidation state. The results obtained indicate that the above free radical initiators act on the catalyzed oxidation of tetraline by affecting the catalyst activity.