Nanoscale microreactor-encapsulation 14-membered nickel(II) hexamethyl tetraaza: synthesis, characterization and catalytic activity

Nanoscale microreactor containing (5,7,7,12,14,14-hexamethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane-4,11-diene)nickel(II) were successfully have been prepared by the template condensation of tris(ethylenediamine)nickel(II) complex with acetone within the nanodimensional pores of zeolite Y. This complex were entrapped in the supercage of zeolite Y by a two-step process in the liquid phase (i) inclusion of a nickel(II) precursor complex [Ni(en)3]2+-NaY and (ii) in situ template reaction of the nickel(II) precursor complex with the acetone. The host-guest nanoscale tetraaza macrocycle was found catalytic activity. Cyclohexene was catalytically oxidized in the presence of molecular oxygen and [Ni(Me6[14]ane N4)]2+-NaY in the absence of solvent at 70 °C, affording 2-cyclohexene-1-ol and 2-cyclohexene-1-one.