Solvent and microwave effects on oxidation of aromatic α-diketones

The effects of microwave irradiation and solvent choice on the oxidation of acenaphthenequinone to 1,8-naphthalic anhydride were investigated. Rate constants of microwave-assisted reactions were larger than those conducted in an oil bath. Both the activation energy and pre-exponential factor of the microwave-assisted reaction changed in comparison to the conventional thermal-heating method. The outcome of the kinetic study on this oxidation reaction might be attributed to a microwave non-thermal effect.