Immobilized metalloporphyrins on 3-aminopropyl-functionalized silica support as heterogeneous catalysts for selective oxidation of primary and secondary alcohols

Abstract  

Iron(III), manganese(III), and cobalt(II) complexes of meso-tetrakis(p-chlorophenyl)porphyrin (Fe(TClPP)X, Mn(TClPP)X, and Co(TClPP)X, X = Cl or OAc) were immobilized onto 3-aminopropyl-functionalized silica (SF-3-APTS). SF-3-APTS acts as both axial base and support for immobilization of these metalloporphyrins. The obtained heterogeneous catalysts were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), UV–Vis, and inductively coupled plasma (ICP) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) techniques. Their catalytic activity as biomimetic catalysts was investigated for the selective oxidation of primary and secondary benzylic alcohols to the corresponding carbonyl compounds with t-butylhydroperoxide as oxidant. SF-3-APTS–Fe(TClPP)Cl demonstrated higher catalytic activity than SF-3-APTS–Mn(TClPP)Cl and SF-3-APTS–Co(TClPP)OAc. The presence of electron-withdrawing substituents on benzylic alcohols enhances the rate of catalytic oxidation. SF-3-APTS–Fe(TClPP)Cl could be reused at least four times without significant loss of its catalytic activity.