Synthesis of new metalloporphyrin derivatives from [5,10,15,20-tetrakis (pentafluorophenyl)porphyrin] and 4-mercaptobenzoic acid for homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis

Synthetic metalloporphyrins are catalysts that can efficiently insert oxygen and other atoms such as nitrogen and sulfur in hydrocarbons and in a wide variety of other organic compounds. This work reports on a synthetic strategy to prepare new metalloporphyrins via structural modification of [5,10,15,20-tetrakis (pentafluorophenyl)porphyrin], or [H2(TPFPP)], with 4-mercaptobenzoic acid; it also describes their characterization and catalytic activity. The substituent groups present in the structure of the resulting porphyrins furnished structured solids, which could potentially serve as catalysts in heterogeneous medium. Investigation of the catalytic activity of the new derivatives in the oxidation of (Z)-cyclooctene, cyclohexane, and heptane, under homogeneous conditions, and in the oxidation of (Z)-cyclooctene, in heterogeneous medium, proved that the new metalloporphyrins constituted excellent catalysts for (Z)-cyclooctene epoxidation. As for alkane oxidation, they selectively gave the corresponding alcohol in good yields.

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