Anchoring manganese acetylacetonate complex on MCM-41: Catalytic testing on limonene oxidation

This work reports the results of limonene oxidation in the liquid phase, over manganese acetylacetonate anchored onto MCM-41. Diluted t-butyl hydroperoxide is used as oxidant. Limonene oxide, carveol and carvone are formed, but the main product obtained is a polymer. The preservation of the MCM-41 channel system upon anchoring was checked by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction and nitrogen adsorption analysis. The complex anchoring was succeeded, since the catalyst could be used in four consecutive experiments. The maximum TOF values obtained for each run are similar and no significant metal complex leaching was observed (3% after the 4th run).