Synthesis and characterization of peripheral and non-peripheral substituted Co(II) phthalocyanines and their catalytic activity in styrene oxidation

•Synthesis cobalt(II) phthalocyanines.•Characterization using spectroscopic methods.•Testing of complexes as catalyst for styrene oxidation with different oxidants.

The synthesis of symmetrical cobalt(II) phthalocyanine complexes containing 2,2,3,3-tetrafluoro-1-propanoxy and 4-{2-[2-(1-naphthyloxy)ethoxy]ethoxy} groups obtained from 4-nitrophthalonitrile and 3-nitrophthalonitrile are described. The new compounds were characterized by IR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, UV–vis and MS spectral. These cobalt(II) complexes 2 and 6 are employed as catalyst for the oxidation of styrene using tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP), m-chloroperoxybenzoic acid (m-CPBA) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) as oxidants. TBHP was found to be the best oxidant since minimal destruction of the catalyst and higher selectivity in the products were observed when this oxidant was employed. It was also investigated solvent effect on styrene oxidation reaction.