Epoxidation of styrene catalyzed by manganese (III) porphyrins supported on chloromethylated polystyrene resin bearing crown ether groups,

Metalloporphyrins and crown ether groups were simultaneously supported on chloromethylated polystyrene resin to produce a series of polymer-supported catalysts. The synthesis of these catalysts has been studied. The influence of pH, concentrations of NaOCl and phase transfer catalysts on the epoxidation of styrene catalyzed by these catalysts has also been investigated. The experimental results show that manganese(III) porphyrin bound to chloromethylated polystyrene which bears crown ether groups is effective catalysts for the epoxidation of styrene by sodium hypochlorite. The introduction of crown ether groups increases the catalytic efficiency of supported metalloporphyrins. The kinetics of epoxidation catalyzed by supported manganese(III) porphyrins obeys Michaelis-Menten equation—the characteristic of enzyme-driven reaction.