Abstract:
The present invention relates to a process for preparing aldehydes and ketones by carbon-carbon bond cleavage of alkenes, wherein the process is catalysed by first row transition metal nitro coordinated polyoxometalate catalyst. The catalyst can be prepared by pre-treatment of aqua coordinated polyoxometalates with NO2, or they are formed in situ when the reactions are carried in nitroalkanes under aerobic conditions, or they are formed in situ from nitrosyl (NO) compounds in the presence of O2.