ABSTRACT
The “Amoco MC Method” consists of oxygenating hydrocarbons in the liquid phase using metal/bromide catalysts and dioxygen (molecular oxygen) as the primary oxidant. It is one of the major methods to commercially produce aromatic carboxylic acids. Not generally recognized is the versatility of this method to oxygenate a wide variety of hydrocarbons to alcohols, acetates, aldehydes, ketones and especially carboxylic acids. The versatility of the method is largely due to the ability to oxidize selectively molecules with very large differences in reactivity. A basic introduction to the method will be given by describing typical catalysts, solvents, and experimental conditions necessary to oxygenate hydrocarbons. Then typical results from the oxygenation of methyl-, ethyl-, and isopropylbenzenes, naphthalenes, oligomeric compounds, heterocyclic compounds, organometallic compounds, and aliphatic hydrocarbons will be given.
