Investigation of catalytic activity of cobalt–Schiff base complex covalently linked to the polyoxometalate in the alkene and benzyl halide oxidation with hydrogen peroxide

The catalytic activity of a hybrid compound Co(salen)–POM (1) consisting of cobalt(salen) [salen = N,N′-bis(salicylidene)ethylenediamine] complex covalently linked to a Keggin type polyoxometalate (POM) was studied, for the first time, in the oxidation of various olefins in acetonitrile, using hydrogen peroxide as an oxygen source. The complex (1) can catalyze oxidation of various olefins including non-activated terminal olefins. The effect of other parameters such as solvent, oxidant and temperature were also investigated. The selective oxidation of benzyl halides to their corresponding carbonyl compounds by complex (1), as catalyst, was also examined at room temperature.