Use of immobilized transition metal complexes as recyclable catalysts for oxidation reactions with hydrogen peroxide as oxidant

A tetradentate Schiff base (teta), obtained from triethylenetetramine and salicylaldehyde, has been covalently bonded to divinylbenzene cross-linked chloromethylated polystyrene. This chelating ligand, abbreviated as PS-teta (PS = polymeric support), reacts with metal chlorides (Cu²⁺, Co²⁺, and Ni²⁺) in methanol to give polymer-bound transition metal complexes, PS-Cu(II)teta/(Cat-1), PS-Ni(II)teta/(Cat-2), and PS-Co(II)teta/(Cat-3), formation of which has been established by various physiochemical methods and spectroscopic techniques. The catalytic potential of these materials has been tested for the oxidation of various alkenes, alkanes, alcohols, and thioethers in the presence of 30% H₂O₂ as an oxidant. At the same time, these catalysts are very stable and could be reused in oxidation reactions for more than five times without noticeable loss of their catalytic activity.