Polymer bound glutamic acid salicylaldehyde Schiff‐base complex ­catalyst for oxidation of olefins with ­dioxygen

The polymer bound Schiff‐base ligand (PS‐SalGlu) has been prepared from polystyrene bound salicylaldehyde and glutamic acid, and its complex (PS‐SalGlu‐Co) has also been synthesized. The polymer ligand and its complex were characterized by infrared spectroscopy, small area X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and inductively coupled plasma‐atomic emission spectro (ICP‐AFS). In the presence of the complex, cyclohexene can be effectively oxidized by molecular oxygen without reductant. The long‐chain linear aliphatic olefins, such as 1‐octene, 1‐decene, 1‐dodecene and 1‐tetradecene, can be directly oxidized by molecular oxygen catalyzed by PS‐SalGlu‐Co, which affords the 1,2‐epoxy alkane. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.