Iran. J. Chem. Chem. Eng. Research Article Vol. 37, No. 6, 2018 Research Article 89 Selective Oxidation of Lauryl Alcohol to Lauraldehyde under Liquid-Liquid Phase Transfer Catalysis (LL-PTC) with Potassium Chromate as the Oxidizing Agent Ranveer, Anil C; Ranade, Suresh V.; Mistry, Cyrus Keki* + Department of Chemical Engineering, Mahatma Gandhi Mission’s College of Engineering and Technology, Kamothe, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, 410 209 INDIA ABSTRACT: In the present research, the selective oxidation of lauryl alcohol to lauraldehyde was studied under liquid-liquid phase transfer conditions using potassium chromate (K2CrO4) as an oxidizing agent and tetrabutyl ammonium bromide (TBAB) as the phase transfer catalyst. Chromium (VI) reagents are used in these oxidations since the alcohols are selectively oxidized to the aldehydes without any over-oxidation. In non-aqueous solutions the oxidation by chromium (VI) does not go to completion as the intermediate partially oxidized material containing chromium must be hydrolysed for oxidation to continue. Liquid-Liquid Phase Transfer Catalysis (LL-PTC) involves the transfer of one reactant from the aqueous phase to the organic phase with the help of small quantities of a phase transfer catalyst which is usually quaternary ammonium or phosphonium salt. It was observed that no over-oxidation products such as lauric acid and high molecular weight esters of lauryl alcohol were formed under the reaction conditions used. The effect of various reaction parameters such as the speed of agitation, temperature, the concentration of lauryl alcohol , the concentration of potassium chromateand phase transfer catalyst loading were studied. A reaction mechanism involving the formation of chromate ester in the organic phase has been proposed and a kinetic model has been developed based on the experimental results obtained. KEYWORDS: Selective Oxidation; Perfumery and Aroma Chemicals; Lauraldehyde; Phase Transfer Catalysis; Kinetic Model. INTRODUCTION The oxidation of primary and secondary alcohols to aldehydes and ketones is one of the most important transformations in organic chemistry both at a laboratory and industrial scale [1]. The oxidation of alcohols particularly the oxidation of octanol, decanol, and dodecanol plays an important role in organic synthesis and aldehydes (Octanal, decanal and dodecanal) are widely used in the perfume industry and the synthesis of citrus oil. The catalytic oxidation for the manufacture of organic compounds (octanal, decanal, and dodecanal) is an interesting area of research and forms the subject of this work. The transformation of alcohols into aldehydes or ketones is a fundamental reaction in organic synthesis [2], a number of methods are known for alcohol oxidation, * To whom correspondence should be addressed. + E-mail: cyruskmistry@gmail.com 1021-9986/2018/6/89-94 6/$/5.06