Abstract: An efficient two-step preparation of α-tetralone from tetralin was studied. First, tetralin was oxidized to α-tetralin hydroperoxide with air in the presence of a metalloporphyrin catalyst. Second, a catalytic amount of either water-soluble iron salts or copper salts was added to the resultant α-tetralin hydroperoxide solution to convert α-tetralin hydroperoxide into α-tetralone. The major product of oxidation catalyzed by metalloporphyrin was α-tetralin hydroperoxide, and only a minor amount of α-tetralone and trace of α-tetralol were formed. Simple salts such as CuⅠand FeⅡcould efficiently decompose α-tetralin hydroperoxide to α-tetralone, and best result was obtained with ferrous ion. The influence of the metal ions, catalyst amount, and reaction temperature on both the tetralin aerobic oxidation and the decomposition of α-tetralin hydroperoxide was studied. Possible mechanisms for the oxidation of tetralin and the decomposition of α-tetralin hydroperoxide were proposed.

Key words: metalloporphyrin, transition metal, tetralin, air, α-tetralone, α-tetralin hydroperoxide