The catalytic activity of heteropoly compounds in the oxidation of benzyl alcohol and cyclohexanol under phase transfer conditions has been studied. The catalytic activity of six kinds of heteropoly acids with Keggin structure will drop by the order of GeMo12(H4GeMo12O40), PW12, PMo12, SiMo12, GeW12 and SiW12. When the three protons of H3PW12O40 were replaced by Na+ step by step, the catalytic activity will raise gradually with the drop of acidity. The addition of base and trace amount of sulfuric acid to the reaction system resulted in an increase of catalytic activity. Catalytic activity of mono-lacunary heteropoly compounds is higher than that of the primary heteropoly acids (or salts). The catalytic oxidation system of HPA (heteropoly acids)-H2O2-PTC is very active in the oxidation of benzyl alcohol and cyclohexanol, but it has little activity in the oxidation of inactive compounds such as PrOH, Me2CHOH, BuOH, and n-hexanol. Solvent has great effect on reaction, when polar compounds such as water were used as solvent, the catalytic activity is better than that when non-polar compounds were used as solvent.

Key words: HETEROPOLYACID, PHOSPHATE, PHOSPHATE, PHASE TRANSFER CATALYSIS, CYCLOHEXANOL, TUNGSTATE, CATALYTIC ACTIVITY, OXIDATION REACTION, BENZALCOHOL