The cobalt catalyzed oxidation of cyclohexane in acetic acid solution to adipic acid by pure oxygen has been studied. Under the following conditions of investigation:reaction temperature 80-95℃;concentration of cyclohexane 1.08-2.97 mol/1;concentration of Co(OAc)2.4H2O 0.0301-0.0803 mol/l; acetic acid/cyclohexane 10-20(by weight) and oxygen pressure

5-30 kg/cm2

it is shown that the kinetics of adipic acid formation can be expressed by the following equation where r-rate of formation of adipic acid [C6H12]-concentration of cyclohexane [Co]-concentration of cobaltic ion [Co#]- concentration of cobaltous ion [po2]-pressure of oxygen k-rate constant of reaction.The temperature dependance of the rate constant can be correlated with the Arrhenius equation The apparant activited energy △E is 32.74 kcal/g-mol. A tentative reaction mechanism is offered to explain the phenomena observed

in which the rate determining step is the formation of cation radical species through the interaction of Co and cyclohexane molecules with Co and Co serving as chain carriers.