Quaternary ammonium decatungstate catalyst for oxidation of alcohols

This work describes the use of hydrogen peroxide as oxidant for the selective oxidation of some alcohols in the presence of hexadecyl trimethyl ammonium decatungstate catalyst under simple reaction conditions. It includes the oxidation of cyclohexanol to cyclohexanone in the temperature range of 90 to 100 °C for 2 hours with 89.1% yield and 92.3% cyclohexanol conversion and the oxidation of hexanol and octanol at a temperature of 90 °C or reflux for 12–17 hours with 86.2–93.7% yields and 93.5–98.8% carboxylic acid selectivity.