Metalloporphyrin covalently bound to silica. Preparation, characterization and catalytic activity in oxidation of ethyl benzene

Manganese(III) porphyrin complexes [Mn(TMCPP)] [TMCPP: 5, 10, 15, 20-tetrakis (4-methoxy carbonyl phenyl) porphyrin] were grafted on the organo-functionalized silica gel. This new catalyst was characterized by UV–Vis, FTIR, surface area measurements and elemental analysis, and it was used as catalyst in the oxidation of ethyl benzene by different oxidants such as hydrogen peroxide. The manganese porphyrin catalyst proved to be efficient and selective for synthesis of acetophenone. This catalyst showed a reasonable conversion (48%), and excellent selectivity (96.6%), when tert-butyl hydroperoxide in organic solvent was used as oxidant.