| abstract |
Reaction mixtures which contain cyclohexyl hydroperoxide, cyclohexanol and cyclohexanone and are obtained by oxidizing cyclohexane with molecular oxygen, or a gas containing this, in the liquid phase at from 130° to 200° C. under from 5 to 25 bar are worked up by treatment with an aqueous alkali solution in the presence of a cobalt salt at elevated temperatures by an improved process wherein a phosphonic acid compound of the formula ##STR1## where X is alkylene or 2 to 6 carbon atoms, R 1 is --CH 2 PO 3 H and R 2 , R 3 and R 4 may be identical or different and are each --CH 2 PO 3 H, --CH 2 OH, hydrogen or alkyl of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, is concomitantly used. |