Industrially, cyclohexane is oxidised in air (15 atm)
at 160 ◦C in the presence of cobalt naphtenate as a homogeneous catalyst, giving cyclohexanone and cyclohexanol with selectivity
(80%), but a low conversion (1–10%) [3]. Nanomaterials such
as Fe2O3 [4], Au nanoparticles supported on porous solids like
Au/MCM-41 [5] have also been studied for cyclohexane oxidation.
Recently, the aerobic oxidation of cyclohexane was performed
using a supported cobalt tetra(4-carboxyl)phenylporphyrin catalyst
under 0.9 MPa and 150 ◦C [6].