A comparative study of oxidation of alkanes and alkenes by hydrogen peroxide catalyzed by Cu(salen) complex covalently bound to a Keggin type polyoxometalate and its neat counterpart

The catalytic activity of a hybrid compound, [Cu(salen)-POM], (1) consisting of Cu (II)(salen)[H2salen= N,N′-bis(salicylidene)ethylenediamine] complex covalently linked to a Keggin type polyoxometalate (POM), K8SiW11O39, was studied in the oxidation of various alkanes and alkenes in acetonitrile, using hydrogen peroxide as oxygen source. While, [Cu(salen)-POM] catalyst showed mode rate to good catalytic activity and product selectivity in the oxidation reactions, the complex Cu(II)(salen) showed poor catalytic activity in these reactions. The effect of other parameters such as solvent, oxidant and temperature was also investigated.