Natural phosphate as heterogeneous catalyst for oxidation of cyclic ketones to keto acids in environmentally friendly media

A novel method for the selective oxidation of cycloalkanones to keto acids has been developed employing the natural phosphate (np) as heterogeneous catalyst and molecular oxygen as clean oxidant. the effects of solvent nature and reaction times on oxidation were fully considered. the catalyst can be easily recovered and efficiently reused. the selectivity observed at high conversions of various cyclic ketones,coupled with the use of the mild conditions and inexpensive oxidant,can make this process very attractive in the fine chemical synthesis.