Graphical abstractResearch Highlights Ruthenium nanoparticles proved to be active in pinene oxidation in neat water.
An average yield towards verbenone of 41% was achieved.
Radical species are involved in the allylic oxidation.This catalytic process used eco-respectful reagent (t-BHP) and solvent (H2O).
AbstractAqueous suspensions of Ru(0) nanoparticles, stabilized with hydroxyethylammonium salts and possessing sizes around 2 nm, proved to be active and selective in the mild oxidation of -pinene in the presence of tert-butylhydroperoxide, in neat water. Verbenone, a product of great interest for fine chemistry, was obtained as major product with yield up to 41% under optimized conditions. 2-hydroxy-3-pinanone was identified as a co-product of the reaction, but with very low amount (< 7%). Kinetic investigations allowed determining the potential reaction intermediates and by-products. Moreover, mechanistic studies with radical scavengers confirmed that -pinene oxidation mainly implies both carbon-and oxygen-centered radicals.