Heterogeneous catalytic aerobic oxidation behavior of Co–Na heterodinuclear polymeric complex of Salen-crown ether

A new kind of Co–Na heterodinuclear polymer complex based on Salen Schiff base and crown ether has been successfully prepared by condensation polymerization. Its catalytic behavior for aerobic oxidation of cyclohexene, alkylbenzenes and linear aliphatic olefins was studied in the absence of any solvents or reducing agents under mild conditions. The oxidation of cyclohexene catalyzed by the above catalyst proved to be a simple and efficient method for obtaining 2-cyclohexen-1-one (CO) and 2-cyclohexen-ol (OH) in a high selectivity. Kinetics of the oxidation was also investigated. The results showed that the aerobic oxidation of cyclohexene catalyzed by Salen-crown ether heterodinuclear polymer complex follows a radical chain aerobic oxidation mechanism. This oxidation system is also efficient in the oxidation of alkylbenzenes and linear aliphatic olefins, which afforded corresponding benzylic oxidation products and epoxides, respectively.