Effect of ligand structure of Schiff base oxovanadium(IV) complexes on their catalytic activity in aerobic oxidation of alcohols

Two kinds of immobilized bidentate Schiff base oxovanadium(IV) complexes are prepared via polymer reactions and coordination reactions with chloromethylated cross-linked polystyrene (CMCPS) microspheres as matrix. Benzaldehyde (BA)-functionalized CPS microspheres, BA-CPS microspheres, were prepared through nucleophilic substitution with CMCPS microsphere as precursor and p-hydroxy benzaldehyde as reagent, and then Schiff base reactions were carried out with 3-aminopyridine (AP) and glycine (GL) as reagents, respectively, obtaining two kinds of bidentate Schiff base ligand-bonded microspheres, BAAP-CPS microspheres and BAGL-CPS microspheres. Finally, through coordination reactions with vanadyl sulfate (VOSO₄) as reagent, the two kinds of immobilized bidentate Schiff base oxovanadium(IV) complex microspheres, CPS-VO(BAAP)₂] and CPS-VO(BAGL)₂], were obtained. The two immobilized complexes, VO(BAAP)₂ and VO(BAGL)₂, are N,N- and N,O-type bidentate Schiff base oxovanadium(IV) complexes and their ligands have different chemical structures. The two catalyst microspheres were used in oxidation of cyclohexanol and benzyl alcohol with molecular oxygen as oxidant and their catalytic activities are compared. The experimental results show that both solid catalysts can catalyze the transformation reactions of cyclohexanol and benzyl alcohol to their corresponding carbonyl compounds under mild conditions. However, CPS-VO(BAAP)₂] microspheres have much higher catalytic activity and better stability than CPS-VO(BAGL)₂] microspheres. For the immobilized bidentate Schiff base oxovanadium(IV) catalysts, the catalytic property is closely related to the chemical structures of the ligands, and for this, a theoretical explanation is given.