Organometallic Mo complex anchored to magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles as highly recyclable epoxidation catalyst

•Magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles of 11 and 30 nm diameter were prepared.•Nanoparticles were coated with silica and then [MoI2(CO)3] was coordinated to it.•Mo loading was found to be 0.150 mmolMo g−1 and 0.230 mmolMo g−1 in 11 and 30 nm.•Organometallic nano-hybrid materials are active olefin epoxidation catalysts.•Nanocatalysts perform over a wide temperature range and several catalytic cycles.

The organometallic fragment [MoI2(CO)3] was coordinated to magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles of different sizes (average size of 11 and 30 nm) which have been previously coated with a silica shell and grafted with a pyridine derivative ligand. The Mo loading was found to be approximately 0.37 wt-% Mo and 0.57 wt-% Mo, corresponding to 0.150 mmolMo g−1 and 0.230 mmolMo g−1 for materials MNP30-Si-inic-Mo and MNP11-Si-inic-Mo, respectively. Preparation of these organometallic decorated magnetic nanoparticles was further confirmed by evidence obtained from extensive characterization by powder XRD, SEM/TEM analysis, as well as from data of 57Fe Mössbauer and FTIR spectroscopy.Olefin epoxidation of a variety of substrates promoted by these organometallic nano-hybrid materials using tbhp as oxidant, was performed with very good results. The catalytic studies show that the catalysts yield selectively the desired epoxides of a series of olefins. In addition, these catalysts are found to work under a wide temperature range and over several catalytic cycles without notorious performance loss in most cases.

Graphical abstractMagnetic iron nanoparticles of 11 and 30 nm diameter to which Mo organometallic species were anchored. Characterization by powder XRD, SEM/TEM, 57Fe Mössbauer and FTIR confirmed the synthesis. These organometallic nano-hybrid materials are efficient olefin epoxidation catalysts under a wide temperature range and over several catalytic cycles without notorious performance loss.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide