Patents
The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of an aromatic carboxylic acid of the general formula Wherein R comprises an aryl group having 1 to 3 benzene rings, or a substituted aryl group. The aromatic carboxylic acids are prepared by oxidation of alkyl aromatic compounds having a general formula Wherein R1= alkyl or substituted alkyl having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, and R2=aryl having 1 to 3 benzene rings, using solid catalysts containing organ metallic cluster complexes of cobalt and manganese.The activity of the catalyst in oxidation of alkyl aromatic compounds is enhanced significantly due to the presence of organ metallic cluster complexes of both cobalt and manganese in the solid catalyst.The solid catalyst used retains the advantages of homogeneous catalysts used in the prior art while at the same time being easily recoverably by simple filtration thus enabling easy recovery of the desired product.