Epoxidation of cyclohexene with H2O2 over efficient water‐tolerant heterogeneous catalysts composed of mono‐substituted phosphotungstic acid on co‐functionalized SBA‐15

A series of Keggin‐type heteropolyacid‐based heterogeneous catalysts (Co‐/Fe‐/Cu‐POM‐octyl‐NH₃‐SBA‐15) were synthesized via immobilized transition metal mono‐ substituted phosphotungstic acids (Co‐/Fe‐/Cu‐POM) on octyl‐amino‐co‐functionalized mesoporous silica SBA‐15 (octyl‐NH₂‐SBA‐15). Characterization results indicated that Co‐/Fe‐/Cu‐POM units were highly dispersed in mesochannels of SBA‐15, and both types of Brønsted and Lewis acid sites existed in Co‐/Fe‐/Cu‐POM‐octyl‐NH₃‐SBA‐15 catalysts. Co‐POM‐octyl‐NH₃‐SBA‐15 catalyst showed excellent catalytic performance in H₂O₂‐mediated cyclohexene epoxidation with 83.8% of cyclohexene conversion, 92.8% of cyclohexene oxide selectivity, and 98/2 of epoxidation/allylic oxidation selectivity. The order of catalytic activity was Co‐POM‐octyl‐NH₃‐SBA‐15 > Fe‐POM‐octyl‐NH₃‐SBA‐15 > Cu‐POM‐octyl‐NH₃‐SBA‐15. In order to obtain insights into the role of ‐octyl moieties during catalysis, an octyl‐free catalyst (Co‐POM‐NH₃‐SBA‐15) was also synthesized. In comparison with Co‐POM‐NH₃‐SBA‐15, Co‐POM‐octyl‐NH₃‐SBA‐15 showed enhanced catalytic properties (viz. activity and selectivity) in cyclohexene epoxidation. Strong chemical bonding between ‐NH₃⁺ anchored on the surface of SBA‐15 and heteropolyanions resulted in excellent stability of Co‐POM‐octyl‐NH₃‐SBA‐15 catalyst, and it could be reused six times without considerable loss of activity.     

Dehydrogenation of Isobutane to Isobutene with Carbon Dioxide over SBA‐15‐Supported Chromia‐Ceria Catalysts

A series of SBA‐15‐supported chromia‐ceria catalysts with 3% Cr and 1%–5% Ce (3Cr‐Ce/SBA) were prepared using an incipient wetness impregnation method. The catalysts were characterized by XRD, N₂ adsorption, SEM, TEM‐EDX, Raman spectroscopy, UV–vis spectroscopy, XPS and H₂‐TPR, and their catalytic performance for isobutane dehydrogenation with CO₂ was tested. The addition of ceria to SBA‐15‐supported chromia improves the dispersion of chromium species. 3Cr‐Ce/SBA catalysts are more active than SBA‐15‐supported chromia (3Cr/SBA), which is due to a higher concentration of Cr⁶⁺ species present on the former catalysts. The 3Cr‐3Ce/SBA catalyst shows the highest activity, which gives 35.4% isobutane conversion and 89.6% isobutene selectivity at 570 °C after 10 min of the reaction.     

Epoxidation of styrene with molecular oxygen catalyzed by a novel oxovanadium(IV) catalyst containing two different kinds of ligands

A novel type of oxovanadium(IV) 8‐hydroxyquinoline (8‐Q) complex and oxovanadium(IV) acetylacetonate (acac) complex were synchronously anchored on to amino‐modified SBA‐15 (named VO(acac:8‐Q)‐SBA‐15) and examined as a catalyst for styrene oxidation. The structure of the synthesized catalyst was characterized by means of X‐ray diffraction (XRD), FT‐IR, diffusion reflection UV–visible, inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP‐AES), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and thermogravimetric analysis (TG). Characterizations with FT‐IR, diffusion reflection UV‐visible, ICP‐AES and TG suggested the incorporation of oxovanadium(IV) complex in amino‐modified SBA‐15. XRD and SEM results indicated that SBA‐15 remained intact throughout the grafting procedure. It was found that VO(acac:8‐Q)‐SBA‐15 catalyst was more active than single‐ligand catalysts VO(acac)₂‐SBA‐15 and VO(8‐Q)₂‐SBA‐15 and that the product selectivity varied in cases of different oxidants. The catalyst VO(acac:8‐Q)‐SBA‐15 with two different ligands showed high yield of styrene oxide (45.8%) and good recoverability when using air as oxidant. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Oxygenation of sulfides catalysed by SBA‐15‐immobilized molybdenum(VI) complex of a bis(phenol) diamine ligand using aqueous hydrogen peroxide as a green oxidant

A highly efficient and reusable molybdenum‐based catalyst has been synthesized by covalent grafting of a bis(phenol) diamine ligand, namely 2‐(((2‐bromoethyl)(2‐((3,5‐di‐tert‐butyl‐2‐hydroxybenzyl)amino)ethyl)amino)methyl)‐4,6‐di‐tert‐butylphenol, onto functionalized ordered mesoporous silica (SBA‐15) followed by complexation with MoO₂(acac)₂. The resulting organic–inorganic hybrid material was found to be a highly effective catalyst for oxygenation of various sulfides to their corresponding sulfoxides or sulfones. The catalyst was characterized using transmission and scanning electron microscopies, X‐ray photoelectron, Fourier transform infrared and atomic absorption spectroscopies, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area analysis and thermogravimetric analysis. Mild reaction conditions, high selectivity and easy recovery and reusability of the catalyst render the presented protocol very useful for addressing industrial needs and environmental concerns.     

Pd(OAc)2@SBA‐15/PrEn nanoreactor: a highly active,reusable and selective phosphine‐free catalyst for Suzuki–Miyaura cross‐coupling reaction in aqueous media

A series of ordered mesoporous organic–inorganic hybrid material was designed by using the amine‐functionalized SBA‐15 (PdX₂@SBA‐15/N_Y, Y = 1, 2) as solid support for palladium complexes. Among them, the Pd(OAc)₂/ethylenediamine complex encapsulated into SBA‐15 (Pd(OAc)₂@SBA‐15/PrEn or Pd(OAc)₂@SBA‐15/PrNHEtNH₂) exhibits higher activity and selectivity toward Suzuki cross‐coupling reaction under aerobic conditions and water solvent mixture. The SBA‐15/PrEn supported palladium pre‐catalyst could be separated easily from reaction products and used repetitively several times, showing its superiority over homogeneous catalysts for industrial and chemical applications. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Nitrogen‐doped mesoporous carbon materials for oxidative dehydrogenation of propane

The CN‐15‐x series materials with different doses of SBA‐15 template and the CN‐y‐2.0 series materials with different hard templates were prepared by the hard template method with hexamethylenetetramine as the carbon and nitrogen source. The obtained mesoporous carbon materials were characterized by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), N₂ adsorption–desorption, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Raman spectroscopy, and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The catalytic performance of propane oxidative dehydrogenation was determined. The characterization results indicate that the catalytic activity of CN‐15‐2.0 with a bipartite hexagonal ordered structure was higher than those of the other materials. The conversion of propane was 22.98%, and the selectivity toward propylene was 41.70%.     

Influence of Pore Structure on Catalytic Properties of Mesoporous Silica-supported Co-B Amorphous Alloys in Hydrogenation of Cinnamaldehyde to Cinnamyl Alcohol

Co‐B amorphous alloy catalysts supported on three kinds of mesoporous silica (common SiO₂, MCM‐41 and SBA‐15) have been systematically studied focusing on the effect of pore structure on the catalytic properties in liquid‐phase hydrogenation of cinnamaldehyde to cinnamyl alcohol (CMO). Structural characterization of a series of different catalysts was performed by means of N₂ adsorption, X‐ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, hydrogen chemisorption, and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Various characterizations revealed that the pore structure of supports profoundly influenced the particle size, location and dispersion degree of Co‐B amorphous alloys. Co‐B/SBA‐15 was found more active and selective to CMO than either Co‐B/SiO₂ or Co‐B/MCM‐41. The superior catalytic activity could be attributed to the higher active surface area, because most of Co‐B nanoparticles in Co‐B/SBA‐15 were located in the ordered pore channels of SBA‐15 rather than on the external surface as found in Co‐B/SiO₂ and Co‐B/MCM‐41. Meanwhile, the geometrical confinement effect of the ordered mesoporous structure of SBA‐15 was considered to be responsible for the enhanced selectivity to CMO on Co‐B/SBA‐15, inhibiting the further hydrogenation of CMO to hydrocinnamyl alcohol.     

Effects of titanium silicalite and TiO2 nanocomposites on supported Co‐based catalysts for Fischer–Tropsch synthesis

Titanium silicalite (TS) and TiO₂ nanocomposites were prepared by mixing TS and TiO₂ with different ratios in ethanol. They were impregnated with 15 wt% Co loading to afford Co‐based catalysts. Fischer–Tropsch synthesis (FTS) performance of these TS–TiO₂ nanocomposite‐supported Co‐based catalysts was studied in a fixed‐bed tubular reactor. The results reveal that the Co/TS–TiO₂ catalysts have better catalytic performance than Co/TS or Co/TiO₂ each with a single support, showing the synergistic effect of the binary TS–TiO₂ support. Among the TS–TiO₂ nanocomposite‐supported Co‐based catalysts, Co/TS–TiO₂‐1 presents the highest activity. These catalysts were characterized using N₂ adsorption–desorption measurements, X‐ray diffraction, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, H₂ temperature‐programmed reduction, H₂ temperature‐programmed desorption and transmission electron microscopy. It was found that the position of the active component has a significant effect on the catalytic activity. In the TS–TiO₂ nanocomposites, cobalt oxides located at the new pores developed between TS and TiO₂ can exhibit better catalytic activity. Also, a positive relationship is observed between Co dispersion and FTS catalytic performance for all catalysts. The catalytic activity is improved on increasing the dispersion of Co.     

An efficient,mild and selective Ullmann‐type N‐arylation of indoles catalysed by Pd immobilized on amidoxime‐functionalized mesoporous SBA‐15 as heterogeneous and recyclable nanocatalyst

A wide range of N‐arylated indoles were selectively synthesized through intermolecular C(aryl)? N bond formation from the corresponding aryl iodides and indoles through Ullmann‐type coupling reactions in the presence of a catalytic amount of Pd immobilized on amidoxime‐functionalized mesoporous SBA‐15 (SBA‐15/AO/Pd(0)) under mild reaction conditions. These cross‐coupled products were obtained in excellent yields under mild conditions at extremely low palladium loading (ca 0.3 mol%), and the heterogeneous catalyst can be readily recovered by simple filtration and reused seven times with loss in its activity. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Xantphos Doped POPs‐PPh3 as Heterogeneous Ligand for Cobalt‐Catalyzed Highly Regio‐ and Stereoselective Hydrosilylation of Alkynes

A Co(acac)₂/POL‐Xantphos@10PPh₃‐catalyzed hydrosilylation of unsymmetrical internal alkynes with Ph₂SiH₂ has been developed for the synthesis of highly selective syn‐α‐vinylsilane products. Furthermore, terminal alkynes were also used and gave the products with excellent regioselectivity and a wide functional group tolerance. Because this porous organic polymer combines the selectivity and activity merits of Xantphos with the stability advantage derived from the high concentration of PPh₃, the Co(acac)₂/POL‐Xantphos@10PPh₃ can be recycled multiple times without loss of activity and selectivity. This heterogeneous catalyst is expected to find promising applications in industrial synthesis.     

Efficient One‐Pot Solvent‐Free Synthesis of 1H‐Pyrazolo[1,2‐b]phthalazine‐5,10‐diones Catalyzed by Sulfonic Acid Functionalized Nanoporous Silica (SBA‐Pr‐SO3H)

A green protocol has been developed for the synthesis of 1H‐pyrazolo[1,2‐b]phthalazine‐5,10‐diones by one‐pot cyclocondensation reaction of phthalhydrazide, aromatic aldehydes, and malononitrile or ethyl cyanoacetate using sulfonic acid functionalized SBA‐15 (SBA‐Pr‐SO₃H) as a heterogeneous solid acid catalyst under solvent‐free conditions.     

A Magnetically Separable Catalyst for Synthesis of 1‐Phenoxy‐2‐propanol Via Atom‐economic Reaction

A magnetically separable catalyst Al₂O₃‐MgO/Fe₃O₄ was prepared by Al₂O₃‐MgO supported on magnetic oxide Fe₃O₄ and charactered by FT‐IR, XRD and SEM. The mixed oxides afforded high catalytic activity and selectivity for synthesis of 1‐phenoxy‐2‐propanol from phenol and propylene oxide with 80.3% conversion and 88.1% selectivity to 1‐phenoxy‐2‐propanol. Especially, facile separation of the catalyst by a magnet was obtained and the catalytic performance of the recovered catalyst was unaffected even at the forth run.     

Excellent alkene epoxidation catalytic activity of macrocyclic‐based complex of dioxo‐Mo(VI) on supermagnetic separable nanocatalyst

A phenoxybutane‐based Schiff base complex of cis‐dioxo‐Mo(VI) was supported on paramagnetic nanoparticles and characterized using powder X‐ray diffraction, infrared, diffuse reflectance and atomic absorption spectroscopies, scanning and transmission electron microscopies and vibrating sample magnetometry. The separable nanocatalyst was tested for the selective epoxidation of cyclohexene, cyclooctene, styrene, indene, α‐pinene, 1‐octene, 1‐heptene, 1‐dodecene and trans‐stilbene using tert‐butyl hydroperoxide (80% in di‐tert‐butyl peroxide–water, 3:2) as oxidant in chloroform. The catalyst was efficient for oxidation of cyclooctene with 100% selectivity for epoxidation with 98% conversion in 10 min. We were able to separate magnetically the nanocatalyst using an external magnetic field and used the catalyst at least six successive times without significant decrease in conversion. The turnover frequency of the catalyst was remarkable (2556 h^?1 for cyclooctene). The proposed nanomagnetic catalyst has advantages in terms of catalytic activity, selectivity, catalytic reaction time and reusability by easy separation.     

Selective vapor‐phase oxidation of o‐xylene to phthalic anhydride over Co‐Mn/H3PW12O40@TiO2 using molecular oxygen as a green oxidant

The oxidation of o‐xylene to phthalic anhydride over Co‐Mn/H₃PW₁₂O₄₀@TiO₂ was investigated. The experimental results demonstrated that the prepared catalyst effectively catalyzed the oxidation of o‐xylene to phthalic anhydride. Also, the synergistic effect between three metals plays vital roles in this reaction. From a green chemistry point of view, this method is environmentally friendly due to carrying out the oxidation in a fixed‐bed reactor under solvent‐free condition and using molecular oxygen as a green and cheap oxidizing agent. The resulting solid catalysts were characterized by FT‐IR, XRD, XPS, ICP‐OES, FESEM, TEM, EDX, DR‐UV spectroscopy, BET and thermogravimetric analysis. The oxidation of o‐xylene yields four products: o‐tolualdehyde, phthaldialdehyde, phthalide and finally phthalic anhydride as the main product. The reaction conditions for oxidation of o‐xylene were optimized by varying the temperature, weight hourly space velocity and oxygen flow rate (contact time). The optimum weight percentage of phosphotungstic acid (HPW) and Co/Mn for phthalic anhydride production were 15 wt % and 2 wt%, respectively. The best Co/Mn ratio was found to be 10/1. Oxygen flow rate was very important on the phthalic anhydride formation. The optimum conditions for oxidation of o‐xylene were T = 370 °C, WHSV = 0.5 h^?1 and oxygen flow rate = 10 mL min^?1. Under optimized conditions, a maximum of 88.2% conversion and 75.5% selectivity to phthalic anhydride was achieved with the fresh catalyst. Moreover, reusability of the catalyst was studied and catalytic activity remained unchanged after at least five cycles.     

Catalytic Gas‐phase Fluorination of Hexachlorobutadiene to 1,2‐Dichlorotetrafluorocyclobutene over Cr/Zn‐based Catalysts

In this paper, the gas‐phase fluorination of hexachlorobutadiene (HCBD) to synthesize 1,2‐dichlorotetrafluorocyclobutene (DTB) was carried out over a series of Cr/M/Zn catalysts (M = Ni, Co, Cu, In, Al). The influence of prefluorination by different fluorinating agents (HF, 95%HF + 5%Cl₂, 95%HF + 5%O₂, CF₂O, CF₂Cl₂) on catalytic performance of Cr/Co/Zn sample was also investigated. The addition of prompters to the Cr/Zn catalyst improved remarkably its catalytic properties. The Cr/Ni/Zn catalyst exhibited the best catalytic activity (1.318 mmol/h/g) at 390 °C and the Cr/Co/Zn catalyst showed the best DTB selectivity (42.5%) at 350 °C. Compared to that of gaseous HF, the catalytic performance of the Cr/Co/Zn catalyst after treatment by HF + O₂ and CF₂O increased considerably, whereas for HF + Cl₂ and CF₂Cl₂ it showed little effect. In order to identify the different species (Cr─O, Cr─F, CrO _xF _y) present on catalysts’ surface and determine their exact role, these catalysts before and after the reaction were characterized by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. It was found that the concentration of the various species was responsible for the activity and lifetime of catalysts. Moreover, a possible reaction route is proposed based upon the product distribution. The most feasible formation pathway of DTB proceeded via the cyclization of C₄Cl₄F₂ or C₄Cl₃F₃ to yield c‐C₄Cl₄F₂ and c‐C₄Cl₃F₃ followed by further the Cl/F exchange.     

Cobalt‐Catalyzed Diborylation of 1,1‐disubstituted Vinylarenes: A Practical Route to Branched gem‐Bis(boryl)alkanes

We report the first catalytic diborylation of 1,1‐disubstituted vinylarenes with pinacolborane using a cobalt catalyst generated from bench‐stable Co(acac)₂ and xantphos. A wide range of 1,1‐disubstituted vinylarenes underwent this transformation to produce the corresponding gem‐bis(boryl)alkanes in modest to high yields. This cobalt‐catalyzed reaction can be readily conducted on a gram scale without the use of a dry box and represents a practical and effective approach to prepare a wide range of branched gem‐bis(boryl)alkanes.     

Solvent‐Free Aerobic Chemoselective Oxidation of β‐Ionone catalyzed by N‐Hydroxyphthalimide/Co(acac)2

β‐Ionone was oxidized with O₂ under solvent‐free conditions catalyzed by an N‐hydroxyphthalimide/Co(acac)₂ system in mild conditions with high conversion and excellent selectivity to oxo‐β‐ionone or 5,6‐epoxy‐β‐ionone in different reaction conditions, respectively.     

Composites of poly(L‐lactide‐trimethylene carbonate‐glycolide) and surface modified SBA‐15 as bone repair material

This work aims to develop novel composites from a poly(L ‐lactide‐co‐trimethylene carbonate‐co‐glycolide) (PLTG) terpolymer and mesoporous silica (SBA‐15) nanofillers surface modified by post‐synthetic functionalization. SBA‐15 first reacts with a silane coupling agent, γ‐aminopropyl‐trimethoxysilane to introduce ammonium group. PLLA chains were then grafted on the surface of SBA‐15 through ammonium initiated ring‐opening polymerization of L ‐lactide. Composites were prepared via solution mixing of PLTG terpolymer and surface modified SBA‐15. The structures and properties of pure SBA‐15, γ‐aminopropyl‐trimethoxysilane modified SBA‐15 (H₂N‐SBA‐15), PLLA modified SBA‐15 (PLLA‐NH‐SBA‐15), and PLTG/PLLA‐NH‐SBA‐15 composites were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, N₂ adsorption‐desorption, differential scanning calorimetry, contact angle measurement, and mechanical testing. The results demonstrated that PLLA chains were successfully grafted onto the surface of SBA‐15 with grafting amounts up to 16 wt.%. The PLTG/PLLA‐NH‐SBA‐15 composites exhibit good mechanical properties. The tensile strength, Young's modulus, and elongation at break of the composite containing 5 wt.% of PLLA‐NH‐SBA‐15 were 39.9 MPa, 1.3 GPa, and 273.6%, respectively, which were all higher than those of neat PLTG or of the composite containing 5 wt.% of pure SBA‐15. Cytocompatibility tests showed that the composites present very low cytotoxicity.     

Novel Flower‐Like Ag‐SiO2‐MgO‐Al2O3 Material: Preparation,Characterization and Catalytic Application in Methanol Dehydrogenation

Catalytic direct dehydrogenation of methanol to formaldehyde was carried out over Ag‐SiO₂‐MgO‐Al₂O₃ catalysts prepared by sol‐gel method. The optimal preparation mass fractions were determined as 8.3% MgO, 16.5% Al₂O₃ and 20% silver loading. Using this optimum catalyst, excellent activity and selectivity were obtained. The conversion of methanol and the selectivity to formaldehyde both reached 100%, which were much higher than other previously reported silver supported catalysts. Based on combined characterizations, such as X‐ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), diffuse reflectance ultraviolet‐visible spectroscopy (UV‐Vis, DRS), nitrogen adsorption at low temperature, temperature programmed desorption of ammonia (NH₃‐TPD), desorption of CO₂ (CO₂‐TPD), etc., the correlation of the catalytic performance to the structural properties of the Ag‐SiO₂‐ MgO‐Al₂O₃ catalyst was discussed in detail. This perfect catalytic performance in the direct dehydrogenation of methanol to formaldehyde without any side‐products is attributed to its unique flower‐like structure with a surface area less than 1 m²/g, and the strong interactions between neutralized support and the nano‐sized Ag particles as active centers.     

Alkane Oxidation by an Immobilized Nickel Complex Catalyst: Structural and Reactivity Differences Induced by Surface‐Ligand Density on Mesoporous Silica

Immobilized nickel catalysts SBA*‐ L ‐x/Ni ( L =bis(2‐pyridylmethyl)(1H‐1,2,3‐triazol‐4‐ylmethyl)amine) with various ligand densities ( L content (x)=0.5, 1, 2, 4 mol % Si) have been prepared from azidopropyl‐functionalized mesoporous silicas SBA‐N₃‐x. Related homogeneous ligand LtBu and its Ni^II complexes, [Ni( LtBu )(OAc)₂(H₂O)] ( LtBu /Ni) and [Ni( LtBu )₂]BF₄ (2 LtBu /Ni), have been synthesized. The L /Ni ratio (0.9–1.7:1) in SBA*‐ L ‐x/Ni suggests the formation of an inert [Ni L ₂] site on the surface at higher ligand loadings. SBA*‐ L ‐x/Ni has been applied to the catalytic oxidation of cyclohexane with m‐chloroperbenzoic acid (mCPBA). The catalyst with the lowest loading shows high activity in its initial use as the homogeneous LtBu /Ni catalyst, with some metal leaching. As the ligand loading increases, the activity and Ni leaching are suppressed. The importance of site‐density control for the development of immobilized catalysts has been demonstrated.