Novel polystyrene-anchored zinc complex: Efficient catalyst for phenol oxidation

The novel recyclable free –ONNO– tetradentate Schiff base ligand N,N'-bis(2-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde)4-methylbenzene-1,2-diamine (3-MOBdMBn) was synthesized. Complexation of this ligand with zinc (3-MOBdMBn-Zn) was performed, and the catalytic activity of the complex was evaluated. The polymer-supported analog of this complex (P-3-MOBdMBn-Zn) was synthesized, and its catalytic activity was studied. These free and polymer-anchored zinc complexes were prepared by the reactions of metal solutions with one molar equivalent of unsupported 3-MOBdMBn or P-3-MOBdMBn in methanol under nitrogen. The catalytic activity of 3-MOBdMBn-Zn and P-3-MOBdMBn-Zn was evaluated in phenol oxidation. The activity of P-3-MOBdMBn-Zn was significantly affected by the polymer support, and the rate of phenol conversion was around 50% for polystyrene-supported 3-MOBdMBn. The experimental results indicated that the reaction rate was affected by the polymer support, and the rate of phenol conversion was 1.64 μmol/(L·s) in the presence of polystyrene-supported 3-MOBdMBn.

Graphical AbstractThe synthesis of a simple, inexpensive, reusable, and highly efficient polymer-supported –ONNO– tetradentate Schiff base zinc(II) ion catalyst for the oxidation of phenol with H2O2 to catechol and hydroquinone was described.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide