A new type of heterogeneous epoxidation catalysts polyamines molybdenum (VI) complexes grafted on zirconium oligo-styrenyl phosphonate hydrogen phosphate

A new type of inorganic–organic hybrid materials — zirconium oligo-styrenyl phosphonate hydrogen phosphate (ZSPP) was designed and synthesized. Four kinds of new heterogeneous catalysts for olefin epoxidation were obtained by grafting polyamines on ZSPP and subsequently coordinating with MoO2(acac)2. The catalysts were characterized by IR, Raman, XPS, XRD and elemental analysis. The catalytic activities of the prepared catalysts were evaluated through the epoxidation of cyclohexene using TBHP as oxidant. The results revealed that these catalysts possessed high conversion, selectivity and reusability, but with increasing numbers of nitrogen atoms in ligands, the conversion and selectivity gradually decreased.