Liquid phase oxidation of alkanes by tert-butyl hydroperoxide catalyzed by a manganese(III) pyridine amide complex

Oxidation of alkanes by tert-butyl hydroperoxide in acetonitrile solution at room temperature has been performed in the presence of catalytic amounts of [Mn(bpc)OAc]MeOH, where bpc=4, 5-dichloro-1, 2-bis( pyridine- 2- carboxamido)benzene. Cyclohexane, adamantane, toluene, ethylbenzene and cumene give corresponding oxygenated products in moderate to high yields. A mechanism predominantly involving radical chain pathway is proposed.