Synthesis and characterization of the inclusion compound of a ferrocenyldiimine dioxomolybdenum complex with heptakis-2,3,6-tri-O-methyl-β-cyclodextrin

A molybdenum complex bearing a ferrocenyl diimine ligand was prepared in high yield as a single isomeric form. The complex was immobilized in permethylated β-cyclodextrin (TRIMEB) and the resultant inclusion compound characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, FT-IR, 13C CP MAS NMR and UV-Vis spectroscopies. Both the complex MoO2Cl2(FcNN) and its inclusion compound with TRIMEB catalyze with high selectivity the liquid phase epoxidation of cyclooctene using tert-butyl hydroperoxide as the oxidant.