Hydroxylation of cyclohexane with molecular oxygen catalyzed by highly efficient heterogeneous Mn(III) porphyrin catalysts prepared by special synthesis and immobilization method

A novel method to synthesize and immobilize porphyrins as well as manganese porphyrins on crosslinked polystyrene (CPS) microspheres was designed. The chloromethyl groups of chloromethylated CPS microspheres (CMCPS microspheres) were first oxidized to aldehyde groups via Kornblum oxidation reaction, obtaining aldehyde group-functionalized microspheres, and then, the synchronous synthesis and immobilization of porphyrins on CPS microspheres were carried out via the Adler reaction between solid–liquid phases, obtaining three kinds of functional microspheres, on which phenyl porphyrin (PP), p-chlorophenyl porphyrin (CPP) and p-nitrophenyl porphyrin (NPP) were immobilized. Finally, three manganese porphyrin-immobilized microspheres, MnPP–CPS, MnCPP–CPS and MnNPP–CPS, were prepared, these solid catalysts were used in the catalytic hydroxylation reaction of cyclohexane with molecular oxygen as oxidant, and their catalytic performances were mainly investigated in this work. Some surprising experimental results were obtained. The prepared immobilized manganese porphyrin catalysts display amazing catalytic activity and selectivity, and cyclohexane conversion can get up to 45?% and cyclohexanol selectivity in the reaction product can be up to 90–100?%.     

Realizing porphyrin‐functionalization of crosslinked polystyrene microspheres via two special polymer reactions

A novel route to make crosslinked polystyrene (CPS) microspheres to be porphyrin‐functionalized via two special polymer reactions, Kornblum reaction and Adler reaction, was designed and founded. The chloromethyl groups of chloromethylated crosslinked polystyrene (CMCPS) microspheres were first oxidized to aldehyde groups by dimethyl sulfoxide as oxidant via Kornblum oxidation reaction, obtaining aldehyde group‐modified microspheres, ALCPS microspheres, in which, a great quantity of benzaldehyde groups suspend from the main chain, and the effects of the main factors including the reaction temperature, the addition of KI as catalyst and the used amount of NaHCO₃ as acid acceptor on the oxidation reaction were examined. Subsequently, the synchronic synthesizing and immobilizing of porphyrins on CPS microspheres were carried out via the Adler reaction between solid and liquid phases, in which, ALCPS microspheres, pyrrole and benzaldehyde or benzaldehyde analog in a solution were used as co‐reactants, resulting in porphyrin‐functionalized microspheres, and the influence of diverse factors including the acidity of the protonic acid catalyst, the substituent structure of benzaldehyde analog, and the polarity of the solvent as well as the swelling property of the solvent for CPS microspheres on the process of synchronously synthesizing and immobilizing porphyrins on CPS microspheres were investigated in depth. The experimental results indicate that via the designed route, the porphyrin‐functionalization of CPS microspheres can successfully be realized. For the Kornblum oxidation reaction, under the optimal reaction conditions, the conversion of chloromethyl groups can reach 90%. For the Adler reaction between solid and liquid phases, the fitting protonic acid catalyst is lactic acid, appropriate solvent is a mixture of dimethyl sulfoxide and xylene, and using 4‐chlorobenzaldehyde as a benzaldehyde analog reactant in the solution is in favor of the porphyrin‐functionalization of CPS microspheres. Under these specific conditions, the immobilized amount of porphyrin can get up to 23.33 mmol/100 g. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

固载化阳离子金属卟啉/杂多阴离子复合催化剂在分子氧氧化乙苯过程中的催化特性

以交联聚苯乙烯微球(CPS)为基质载体, 采用同步合成与固载的方法, 简捷地制得了固载化阳离子苯基卟啉, 继而通过与钴盐的配合反应, 制备了固载化阳离子钴卟啉. 在此基础上, 以Keggin 型杂多酸磷钨酸(HPW)及磷钼酸(HPMo)为试剂, 凭借阳离子钴卟啉(CoP)与杂多阴离子之间的静电相互作用, 制备与表征了固载化的由阳离子钴卟啉与杂多阴离子复合而成的固体催化剂CoPPW-CPS和CoPPMo-CPS. 将两种复合催化剂用于分子氧氧化乙苯的氧化反应, 考察研究了催化特性. 结果表明: 在分子氧氧化乙苯的氧化反应中, 复合催化剂具有很高的催化活性, 可使乙苯高选择性地转化为苯乙酮, 反应12 h, 苯乙酮的产率达30.1%; 复合催化剂的催化活性比单纯的固载化钴卟啉高75%; CoPPW-CPS的催化活性高于CoPPMo-CPS. 在复合催化剂结构组分中, 固载化的杂多阴离子并无催化活性, 起催化作用的组分是钴卟啉; 但是, 杂多阴离子可有效保护钴卟啉, 使其免于被氧化失活, 从而使其保持稳定的高催化活性. 复合催化剂具有最适宜的投加量, 过量催化剂的加入, 会抑制钴卟啉的催化活性. 复合催化剂还具有良好的循环使用性能.     

Preparation of heterogeneous cationic metalloporphyrin/heteropolyanion composite catalysts and their high catalytic activity in hydroxylation of cyclohexane with molecular oxygen

A new route to improve the metalloporphyrin catalysts is developed, and it is to constitute heterogeneous composite catalysts with immobilized cationic metalloporphyrins and heteropolyanions. By using the method of synchronously synthesizing and immobilizing porphyrins on cross-linked polystyrene microspheres (CPS microspheres), the immobilized porphyrin TAPP-CPS microspheres, on which ternary amine (TA) group-containing phenyl porphyrin (PP) was immobilized, were first prepared, and then the immobilized cationic porphyrin TMPP-CPS microspheres, in whose structure trimethylammoniophenyl porphyrin (TMPP) was contained, were obtained via quaternization reaction. Finally, three immobilized metalloporphyrins, CoTMPP-CPS (shorten as CoP-CPS), MnTMPP-CPS (MnP-CPS) and FeTMPP-CPS (FeP-CPS), were gained through coordination reactions. These immobilized metalloporphyrins were composited with heteropolyanions by right of the mutual electrostatic interaction with phosphotungstic (PW) acid and phosphomolybdic (PMo) acid as reagents, respectively, resulting in several heterogeneous metalloporphyrin/heteropolyanion composite catalysts such as CoPPW-CPS, CoPPMo-CPS and MnPPW-CPS. The composite catalysts were used in the catalytic hydroxylation reaction of cyclohexane with molecular oxygen as oxidant, and their catalytic performances were investigated. The experimental results show that the heterogeneous composite catalysts have extraordinarily high catalytic activity in the hydroxylation reaction of cyclohexane by molecular oxygen, and the cyclohexanol yield in 8 h can get up to 45.5 %. More importantly, the catalytic activity of the heterogeneous composite catalysts is obviously higher than that of the immobilized cationic metalloporphyrins, and the enhanced catalytic activity is originated from a protection of heteropolyanions against the deactivation of metalloporphyrins.     

Immobilization of Transition-metal Hydroxamates on Polystyrene Resins: Effective Biomimetic Heterogeneous Catalysts for Aerobic Oxidation of Ethylbenzene

Salicylhydroxamic acid(SHA) was covalently grafted onto chloromethylated crosslinked polystyrene spheres(CMCPS) by the Friedel-Crafts alkylation reaction. The amount of SHA on CPS was found to be mainly dependent on the amount of Lewis acid(SnCl₄) used and the reaction temperature. Under optimized conditions, the amount of SHA attached to CPS could reach up to 0.43 g/g CPS. Transition metal ions[Co(II), Cu(II), Fe(III) or Mn(II)] were then introduced into the resulting SHA-functionalized microspheres(SHA/CPS) through SHA-metal ion chelation. The obtained microspheres MSHA/CPS were explored as biomimetic catalysts for the aerobic oxidation of ethylbenzene(EB) to ethylbenzene hydroperoxide(EBHP). Among the four supported metal catalysts, FeSHA/CPS showed the highest catalytic activity and good reusability, indicating its great potential as an effective heterogeneous catalyst for the aerobic oxidation of hydrocarbons under mild conditions.     

Synthesis of N‐butylphthalimide catalyzed by quaternary phosphonium salt‐type triphase catalysts based on cross‐linked polystyrene microspheres

Chloroacylation reactions of cross‐linked polystyrene (CPS) microspheres were conducted with two kinds of ω‐chloroacyl chlorides, chloroacetyl chloride, and 4‐chlorobutyryl chloride as reagent, respectively, and the chloromethylation reaction of CPS microspheres was also performed using 1,4‐bis (chloromethoxy) butane as reagent, obtaining three kinds of modified CPS microspheres on which the exchangeable chlorine atoms were introduced. Subsequently, the reactions of these modified microspheres with triphenylphosphine were carried out, respectively, and three kinds of quaternary phosphonium salt (QPS)‐type triphase catalysts (TPC) were prepared. These catalysts were used in the N‐alkylation reaction of phthalimide, namely the reaction of phthalimide in water phase with 1‐bromobutane in organic phase, resulting in N‐butylphthalimide. The effects of main reaction conditions on the triphase‐transfer catalysis reaction were examined, and the relationship between the structure and catalytic activity for these TPC was investigated. The experimental results indicate that the prepared QPS‐type TPC are effective for the N‐alkylation reaction of phthalimide carried out between oil phase and water phase. The polarity of the organic solvent and the temperature affect the reaction rate greatly. The result of the reaction in nitrobenzene having the highest polarity among the used several solvents is the best. It will make the reaction to speed up to raise temperature. The chemical structures of the TPC have crucial influences on the catalytic activity of the TPC. The catalyst with a longer spacer arm, which links the catalytic group to the matrix microspheres, has higher activity. The bonding density of QPS group on the polymer microspheres affects the hydrophilic and hydrophobic property of the TPC and, accordingly, affects the catalytic activity greatly. There is a maximum conversion of 1‐bromobutane as the bonding density of QPS group on TPC is 0.94 mmol/g. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 43: 677–686, 2011     

季鏻盐型三相相转移催化剂的制备及其化学结构与相转移催化活性的关系

 使用两种 ω-氯代酰氯 (氯乙酰氯与氯丁酰氯) 对交联聚苯乙烯微球 (CPS) 进行 Friedel-Crafts 酰基化反应,使用 1,4-二氯甲氧基丁烷对 CPS 微球进行氯甲基化反应, 分别将可交换的氯引入 CPS 微球表面, 制备了化学改性的 CPS 微球. 然后使用三苯基膦对改性微球进行季鏻化反应, 制备了间隔臂 (spacer arm) 长度不同的三种季鏻 (QP) 盐型三相相转移催化剂 QP-CPS. 考察了主要反应条件对制备过程的影响, 并以氯化苄与乙酸钠合成乙酸苄酯的反应体系作为三相相转移催化的模型体系, 初步考察了 QP-CPS 的相转移催化活性,探索了催化剂结构与相转移催化活性的关系. 结果表明, 季鏻盐的化学稳定性较差,在制备过程中需控制反应时间与温度, 且宜选用极性较高的溶剂. 季鏻盐型三相相转移催化剂 QP-CPS 对乙酸苄酯的合成具有较高的催化活性, 在液-固-液之间可有效地实现反应物种乙酸根的转移. 与季铵盐 (QN) 型三相相转移催化剂 QN-CPS 相比, 季鏻盐型三相相转移催化剂 QP-CPS 具有更高的相转移催化活性. 间隔臂越长, QP-CPS 的相转移催化活性越高, QP-CPS 的亲水和亲油性能对相转移催化活性也有很大的影响.     

Axial base‐controlled catalytic activity,oxidative stability and product selectivity of water‐insoluble manganese and iron porphyrins for oxidation of styrenes in water under green conditions

A series of water‐insoluble iron(III) and manganese(III) porphyrins, FeT(2‐CH₃)PPCl, FeT(4‐OCH₃)PPCl, FeT(2‐Cl)PPCl, FeTPPCl, MnT(2‐CH₃)PPOAc, MnT(4‐OCH₃)PPOAc, MnT(2‐Cl)PPOAc and MnTPPOAc, in the presence of imidazole (ImH), F^?, Cl^?, Br^? and acetate were used as catalysts for the aqueous‐phase heterogeneous oxidation of styrenes to the corresponding epoxides and aldehydes with sodium periodate. Also, the effect of various reaction parameters such as reaction time, molar ratio of catalyst to axial base, type of axial base, molar ratio of olefin to oxidant and nature of metal centre on the activity and oxidative stability of the catalysts and the product selectivity was investigated. Higher catalytic activities were found for the iron complexes. Interestingly, the selectivity towards the formation of epoxide and aldehyde (or acetophenone) was significantly influenced by the type of axial base. Furthermore, Br^? and ImH were found to be the most efficient co‐catalysts for the oxidation of olefins performed in the presence of the manganese and iron porphyrins, respectively. The optimized molar ratio of catalyst to axial base was different for various axial bases. Also, the order of co‐catalyst activity of the axial bases obtained in aqueous medium was different from that reported for organic solvents. The use of a convenient axial base under optimum reaction catalyst to co‐catalyst molar ratio in the presence of the manganese porphyrin gave the oxidative products with a conversion of ca 100% in a reaction time of less than 3 h. However, the catalytic activity of the iron porphyrins could not be effectively improved by increasing the catalyst to co‐catalyst molar ratio.     

First insight into catalytic activity of anionic iron porphyrins immobilized on exfoliated layered double hydroxides

Mg-Al layered double hydroxide (LDH) intercalated with glycinate anions was synthesized through co-precipitation and exfoliated in formamide and the single-layer suspension was reacted with aqueous iron porphyrin solutions (Fe(TDFSPP) and Fe(TCFSPP)). The obtained materials were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, UV-vis, and electron paramagnetic resonance and investigated in the oxidation reaction of cyclooctene and cyclohexane using iodosylbenzene as oxidant. The iron porphyrin seems to be immobilized at the surface of the glycinate intercalated LDH. The catalytic activities obtained in heterogeneous media for iron porphyrin, Fe(TDFSPP), was superior to the results obtained under homogeneous conditions, but the opposite effect was observed on the Fe(TCFSPP), indicating that, instead of the structural similarity of both iron porphyrins (second-generation porphyrins), the immobilization of each one produced different catalysts. The best catalytic activity of the Fe(TDFSPP)/Gly-LDH, compared to Fe(TCFSPP)/Gly-LDH, can be explained by the easy access of the oxidant and the substrate to the catalytic sites in the former, probably located at the surface of the layered double hydroxide pillared with glycinate anions. A model for the immobilization and a mechanism for the oxidation reaction will be discussed.     

Mechanism of four-electron reduction of dioxygen to water by ferrocene derivatives in the presence of perchloric acid in benzonitrile, catalyzed by cofacial dicobalt porphyrins

The selective two-electron reduction of dioxygen occurs in the case of a monocobalt porphyrin [Co(OEP)], whereas the selective four-electron reduction of dioxygen occurs in the case of a cofacial dicobalt porphyrin [Co(2)(DPX)]. The other cofacial dicobalt porphyrins [Co(2)(DPA), Co(2)(DPB), and Co(2)(DPD)] also catalyze the two-electron reduction of dioxygen, but the four-electron reduction is not as efficient as in the case of Co(2)(DPX). The micro-superoxo species of cofacial dicobalt porphyrins were produced by the reactions of cofacial dicobalt(II) porphyrins with dioxygen in the presence of a bulky base and the subsequent one-electron oxidation of the resulting micro-peroxo species by iodine. The superhyperfine structure due to two equivalent cobalt nuclei was observed at room temperature in the ESR spectra of the micro-superoxo species. The superhyperfine coupling constant of the micro-superoxo species of Co(2)(DPX) is the largest among those of cofacial dicobalt porphyrins. This indicates that the efficient catalysis by Co(2)(DPX) for the four-electron reduction of dioxygen by Fe(C(5)H(4)Me)(2) results from the strong binding of the reduced oxygen with Co(2)(DPX) which has a subtle distance between two cobalt nuclei for the oxygen binding. Mechanisms of the catalytic two-electron and four-electron reduction of dioxygen by ferrocene derivatives will be discussed on the basis of detailed kinetics studies on the overall catalytic reactions as well as on each redox reaction in the catalytic cycle. The turnover-determining step in the Co(OEP)-catalyzed two-electron reduction of dioxygen is an electron transfer from ferrocene derivatives to Co(OEP)(+), whereas the turnover-determining step in the Co(2)(DPX)-catalyzed four-electron reduction of dioxygen changes from the electron transfer to the O-O bond cleavage of the peroxo species of Co(2)(DPX), depending on the electron donor ability of ferrocene derivatives.     

Three Short Stories about Hexaarylbenzene–Porphyrin Scaffolds

A feasible two‐step synthesis and characterization of a full series of hexaarylbenzene (HAB) substituted porphyrins and tetrabenzoporphyrins is presented. Key steps represent the microwave‐assisted porphyrin condensation and the statistical Diels–Alder reaction to the desired HAB‐porphyrins. Regarding their applications, they proved to be easily accessible and effective high molecular mass calibrants for (MA)LDI mass spectrometry. The free‐base and zinc(II) porphyrin systems, as well as the respective tetrabenzoporphyrins, demonstrate in solid state experiments strong red‐ and near‐infrared‐light emission and are potentially interesting for the application in “truly organic” light‐emitting devices. Lastly, they represent facile precursors to large polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) substituted porphyrins. We prepared the first tetra‐hexa‐peri‐hexabenzocoronene substituted porphyrin, which represents the largest prepared PAH‐porphyrin conjugate to date.     

Synthesis and properties of hybrid porphyrin tapes

Hybrid porphyrin tapes 3 and 4 , consisting of a mixture of 3,5‐di‐tert‐butylphenyl‐substituted donor‐type Zn^II–porphyrins and pentafluorophenyl‐substituted acceptor‐type Zn^II–porphyrins, were prepared by a synthetic route involving cross‐condensation reaction of a Ni^II–porphyrinyldipyrromethane and pentafluorophenyldipyrromethane with pentafluorobenzaldehyde followed by appropriate demetalation, remetalation, and oxidative ring‐closure reaction. The Ni^II‐substituted porphyrin tapes 5 (Ni‐Zn‐Ni) and 6 (Ni‐H₂‐Ni) were also prepared through similar routes. The hybrid porphyrin tapes 3 and 4 are more soluble and more stable than normal porphyrin tapes 1 and 2 consisting of only donor‐type Zn^II–porphyrins. The solid‐state and crystal packing structures of 3 , 4 , and 5 were elucidated by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis. Singly meso–meso‐linked hybrid porphyrin arrays 12 and 14 exhibit redox potentials that roughly correspond to each constituent porphyrin segments, while the redox potentials of the hybrid porphyrin tapes 3 and 4 are positively shifted as a whole. The two‐photon absorption (TPA) values of 1–6 were measured by using a wavelength‐scanning open aperture Z‐scan method and found to be 1900, 21 000, 2200, 27 000, 24 000, and 26 000 GM, respectively. These results illustrate an important effect of elongation of π‐electron conjugation for the enhancement of TPA values. The hybrid porphyrin tapes show slightly larger TPA values than the parent ones.     

在交联聚苯乙烯微球表面实现苯基卟啉的同步合成与固载

以键合有对羟基苯甲醛(HBA)的交联聚苯乙烯(CPS)微球HBA-CPS、苯甲醛和吡咯为反应物, 采用Adler方法, 实现了苯基卟啉(PP)在CPS表面的同步合成与固载, 制得了固载有苯基卟啉的微球PP-CPS. 研究了卟啉同步合成与固载过程的影响因素, 同时进行了微球PP-CPS与钴盐的配合反应, 制备了固载有钴卟啉(CoP)的功能微球CoP-CPS, 初步考察了其对分子氧氧化乙苯的催化活性. 实验结果表明, 在苯基卟啉同步合成与固载的反应过程中, 催化剂的酸性与溶剂的极性是两个主要的影响因素, 使用强极性溶剂与pKa在2.8~3.4范围的酸, 微球PP-CPS表面的苯基卟啉固载量高. 微球CoP-CPS对分子氧氧化乙苯的反应具有明显的催化活性.     

Highly Efficient Cooperative Catalysis by CoIII(Porphyrin) Pairs in Interpenetrating Metal–Organic Frameworks

A series of porous twofold interpenetrated In‐Co^III(porphyrin) metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) were constructed by in situ metalation of porphyrin bridging ligands and used as efficient cooperative catalysts for the hydration of terminal alkynes. The twofold interpenetrating structure brings adjacent Co^III(porphyrins) in the two networks parallel to each other with a distance of about 8.8 Å, an ideal distance for the simultaneous activation of both substrates in alkyne hydration reactions. As a result, the In‐Co^III(porphyrin) MOFs exhibit much higher (up to 38 times) catalytic activity than either homogeneous catalysts or MOF controls with isolated Co^III(porphyrin) centers, thus highlighting the potential application of MOFs in cooperative catalysis.     

Crystal structure of meso‐substituted pyrazolyl porphyrin complexes and their highly active catalyst for oxidation of alkylbenzenes

During the past few years, a great deal of effort has been devoted to the anchoring of catalytic oxidation. In this work, three new catalysts CuPp, MnPp and ZnPp by solvothermal methods with 5, 10, 15, 20‐tetrakis(4‐N‐pyrazolyl)‐phenyl porphyrin (H₂Pp) and the corresponding metal salts have been synthesized and structurally characterized. The single crystal structures determined by X‐ray diffraction show the bond distances of M‐N in porphyrin cores determined the conformation of porphyrin rings. We explored the catalytic activity of CoPp, CuPp, MnPp and ZnPp for oxidation of alkylbenzenes. The experimental results display these products exhibit high catalytic activities and selectivities for oxidation of ethylbenzene to acetophenone, and can be reused by filtration without appreciable decrease in catalytic activity and selectivity.     

交联聚苯乙烯微球固载的双齿席夫碱型氧钒(Ⅳ)配合物催化分子氧氧化苯甲醇

利用水杨醛(SA)和氨甲基(MA)交联聚苯乙烯(CPS)微球反应,制得键合有双齿席夫碱配体SAAM的交联聚苯乙烯SAAM-CPS微球,再与硫酸氧钒发生螯合配位反应,制备了固载有席夫碱型氧钒(Ⅳ)配合物催化剂,采用红外光谱、扫描电镜及热失重等手段对催化剂进行了表征,并用于催化分子氧氧化苯甲醇反应,考察了催化剂用量、反应温...     

Synthesis of an anthracenyl bridged porphyrin–corrole bismacrocycle. Physicochemical and electrochemical characterisation of the biscobalt μ-superoxo derivative

Dicobalt or heterobimetallic cofacial bisporphyrins are up till now amongst the very few molecular electrocatalysts able to promote the direct reduction of dioxygen to water via a four-electron process in acidic medium. Numerous studies have been devoted to elucidate the key steps of this catalytic reaction and an important result has revealed an unexpected high dioxygen affinity for a mixed valence Co(II)/Co(III) cofacial porphyrin, the key intermediate complex being a μ-superoxo derivative. At the same time, the great importance assumed by ‘Pacman’ porphyrins and the recent developments in corrole chemistry have provided the stimulation to synthesise porphyrin–corrole dyads which might also transport and/or activate dioxygen. In the present paper, we report the stepwise synthesis and characterisation of a cofacial porphyrin–corrole bearing an anthracenyl bridge, (PCA)H₅ where PCA is the pentaanion of 1-(13,17-diethyl-2,3,7,8,12,18-hexamethylporphyrin–5-yl)-8-(7,8,12,13-tetramethyl-2,3,17,18-tetraphenylcorrol-10-yl) anthracene. The synthesis and characterisation of the μ-superoxo Co(III)/Co(III) complex 〚(PCA)Co₂Im₂〛(μ-O₂) is also described.     

交联聚苯乙烯微球的表面化学改性及吡啶基卟啉的固载化

以无致癌毒性的1,4-二氯甲氧基丁烷为氯甲基化试剂,先将交联聚苯乙烯(CPS)微球氯甲基化,制得氯甲基化微球CMCPS。 然后使微球CMCPS与4-吡啶甲醛进行季铵化反应,将4-吡啶甲醛键合到CPS微球表面,制得键合吡啶甲醛(PyAL)的改性微球PyAL-CPS。 考察了主要反应条件对季铵化反应的影响,最终确定季铵化反应的优化条件:溶剂CCl4,反应温度60 ℃,最后使改性微球PyAL-CPS、4-吡啶甲醛及吡咯在固-液界面上进行Adler反应,形成固载吡啶基卟啉(PyP)的微球PyP-CPS。 用IR和UV-Vis以及Zn2+配合物生成法表征了微球PyP-CPS的形成及负载量。     

Selective oxidation of ethylbenzene to acetophenone over Cr(III) Schiff base complex intercalated into layered double hydroxide

A new heterogeneous catalyst, Cr(III) Schiff base‐containing layered double hydroxide, was synthesized using the intercalation method. The Cr(III) Schiff base complex derived from 2‐hydroxy‐1‐naphthaldehyde and 4‐aminobenzoic acid was intercalated into the layered double hydroxide. The synthesized materials were characterized using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry, energy‐dispersive X‐ray analysis, scanning electron microscopy, X‐ray diffraction, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area measurement, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, diffuse reflectance UV–visible spectroscopy and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. The catalytic activity was investigated for the oxidation of ethylbenzene with tert‐butylhydroperoxide as an oxidant under solvent‐free conditions as well as with lower chromium concentrations. In the oxidation reaction, ethylbenzene was oxidized to acetophenone and benzaldehyde. The catalyst was recycled ten times without significant loss of catalytic activity. Leaching studies performed with hot filtration experiments showed that the chromium catalyst was heterogeneous in nature and stable under the reaction conditions.     

Manganeseporphyrins immobilized on silica microspheres as biomimetic catalysts hydroxylating cyclohexane with molecular oxygen

Three types of silica microspheres immobilizing Mn(III) porphyrins appending p-CH₃, p-H and p-Cl phenyl substituents (designated as MnMP-S-SiO₂, MnPP-S-SiO₂ and MnCP-S-SiO₂, respectively) have been synthesized and characterized using SEM, IR, UV-vis and TG. The SEM images show that the morphology of the silica microspheres is spheriform with ca. 2–4 μm diameter. The catalytic performances of various supported biomimetic catalysts for the hydroxylation of cyclohexane in the presence of molecular oxygen under mild conditions have been investigated and compared detailedly. The experimental results confirmed that the catalytic efficiencies of these silica microspheres are much higher than those of the free Mn(III) porphyrin analogues and follow the order of MnMP-S-SiO₂ > MnPP-S-SiO₂ > MnCP-S-SiO₂. All these results indicate that the grafting particles can not only protect metalloporphyrin from oxidation, but also promote it to activate O₂. They are mild, reusable and highly efficient heterogeneous catalyst for the epoxidation of cyclohexene. The effect of substituent groups was also discussed.