Birch, Stewart, Kolasch & Birch, LLP
Oxidation process of branched aliphatic hydrocarbons and process for producing the oxide
 A non-cyclic branched aliphatic hydrocarbon (e.g., isobutane) is oxidized with oxygen in the presence of an oxidation catalyst comprising an imide compound of the following formula (1) (e.g., N-hydroxyphthalimide) or an oxidation catalyst comprising the imide compound and a co-catalyst (e.g., a transition metal compound of selected from Group 3A, 4A, 5A, 6A, 7A, 8 and 1B elements of the Periodic Table of elements), for the formation of an oxide (e.g., t-butanol, acetone): ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 represent a substituent such as a hydrogen atom or a halogen atom, or R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 may together form a double bond or an aromatic or non-aromatic 5- to 12-membered ring, X is O or OH, and n is 1 to 3. 
Yasutaka Ishii Daicel Chemical Industries, Ltd.
C C
C07C C07C
inventional inventional
Tatsuya Yasutaka
Nakano Ishii