PURPOSE: To produce methyl ethyl ketone in one step, remarkably reducing the initial cost, production cost and utility, in high yield and selectivity, by oxidizing 1-butene with oxygen under mild condition in the presence of a specific composite catalyst capable of forming a complex.
CONSTITUTION: The objective compound useful as a solvent, etc. is produced by oxidizing activated 1-butene with bonded oxygen activated by the formation of a complex, in a non-aqueous medium under atmospheric pressure at ≤100°C, using a composite catalyst containing (A) the complex of formula I (M is transition metal belonging to the I -group, IVWVII-group and VIII iron group of the periodic table; X is anion such as halogen ion; L is organo-phosphorus compound; m, n and l are numbers defined by the charge of the above transition metal and the ligand) capable of forming an oxygen complex by the coordination with O2 and (B) the complex of formula II (M' is transition metal belonging to the VIIIplatinum group of the periodic table; L' is nitrile, organic fluorine compound or L; m', n' and l'=m, n and l) capable of forming a 1-butene complex by the coordination with 1-butene.
YAMADA RIKUO
ARIKAWA KIJIROU
KAMIGUCHI TAIJI
NISHIMURA YASUYUKI
KAKO HIROYUKI
