Catalytic activities of polymer‐supported metal complexes in oxidation of phenol and epoxidation of cyclohexene

The metal complexes of N, N′‐bis (o‐hydroxy acetophenone) propylene diamine (HPPn) Schiff base were supported on cross‐linked polystyrene beads. The complexation of iron(III), copper(II), and zinc(II) ions on polymer‐anchored HPPn Schiff base was 83.4, 85.7, and 84.5 wt%, respectively, whereas the complexation of these metal ions on unsupported HPPn Schiff base was 82.3, 84.5, and 83.9 wt%. The iron(III) complexes of HPPn Schiff base were octahedral in geometry, whereas copper(II) and zinc(II) ions complexes were square planar and tetrahedral. Complexation of metal ions increased the thermal stability of HPPn Schiff base. Catalytic activity of metal complexes was tested by studying the oxidation of phenol and epoxidation of cyclohexene in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. The polymer‐supported HPPn Schiff base complexes of iron(III) ions showed 73.0 wt% conversion of phenol and 90.6 wt% conversion of cyclohexene at a molar ratio of 1:1:1 of substrate to catalyst and hydrogen peroxide, but unsupported complexes of iron(III) ions showed 63.8 wt% conversion for phenol and 83.2 wt% conversion for cyclohexene. The product selectivity for catechol (CTL) and epoxy cyclohexane (ECH) was 93.1 and 98.3 wt%, respectively with supported HPPn Schiff base complexes of iron(III) ions but was lower with HPPn Schiff base complexes of copper(II) and zinc(II) ions. Activation energy for the epoxidation of cyclohexene and phenol conversion with unsupported HPPn Schiff base complexes of iron(III) ions was 16.6 kJ mol^?1 and 21.2 kJ mol^?1, respectively, but was lower with supported complexes of iron(III) ions. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.