Synthesis,characterization and catalytic activity of peripherally tetra‐substituted Co(II) phthalocyanines for cyclohexene oxidation

New 3,3‐diphenylpropoxyphthalonitrile (5) was obtained from 3,3‐diphenylpropanol (3) and 4‐nitrophthalonitrile (4) with K₂CO₃ in DMF at 50 °C. The novel cobalt(II) phthalocyanine complexes, tetrakis‐[2‐(1,4‐dioxa‐8‐azaspiro[4.5]dec‐8‐yl)ethoxy] phthalocyaninato cobalt(II) (2) and tetrakis‐(3,3‐diphenylpropoxy)phthalocyaninato cobalt(II) (6) were prepared by the reaction of the phthalonitrile derivatives 1 and 5 with CoCl₂ by microwave irradiation in 2‐(dimethylamino)ethanol for at 175 °C, 350 W for 7 and 10 min, respectively. These new cobalt(II)phthalocyanine complexes were characterized by spectroscopic methods (IR, UV–visible and mass spectroscopy) as well as elemental analysis. Complexes 2 and 6 are employed as catalyst for the oxidation of cyclohexene using tert‐butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP), m‐chloroperoxybenzoic acid (m‐CPBA), aerobic oxygen and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) as oxidant. It is observed that both complexes can selectively oxidize cyclohexene to give 2‐cyclohexene‐1‐ol as major product, and 2‐cyclohexen‐1‐one and cyclohexene oxide as minor products. TBHP was found to be the best oxidant since minimal destruction of the catalyst, higher selectivity and conversion were observed in the products. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.