Efficient cyclohexane oxidation with hydrogen peroxide catalysed by a C-scorpionate iron(II) complex immobilized on desilicated MOR zeolite

• The C-scorpionate Fe(II) complex is suitably supported on desilicated MOR zeolite.
• Generation of mesoporosity in commercial MOR improves the anchorage of Fe complex.
• The heterogeneous Fe system is notably efficient for the oxidation of cyclohexane.
• The catalytic activity of the Fe complex is highly improved by heterogenization.

The hydrotris(pyrazol-1-yl)methane iron(II) complex [FeCl2{η3-HC(pz)3}] (Fe, pz = pyrazol-1-yl) immobilized on commercial (MOR) or desilicated (MOR-D) zeolite, catalyses the oxidation of cyclohexane with hydrogen peroxide to cyclohexanol and cyclohexanone, under mild conditions. MOR-D/Fe (desilicated zeolite supported [FeCl2{η3-HC(pz)3}] complex) provides an outstanding catalytic activity (TON up to 2.90 × 103) with the concomitant overall yield of 38%, and can be easy recovered and reused. The MOR or MOR-D supported hydrotris(pyrazol-1-yl)methane iron(II) complex (MOR/Fe and MOR-D/Fe, respectively) was characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, ICP-AES, and TEM studies as well as by IR spectroscopy and N2 adsorption at −196 °C. The catalytic operational conditions (e.g., reaction time, type and amount of oxidant, presence of acid and type of solvent) were optimized.

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