Synthesis and characterization of copper porphyrin into SBA-16 through “ship in a bottle” method: A catalyst for photo oxidation reaction under visible light

•Copper (II) meso-tetrakis(4-chlorophenyl)porphyrin was immobilized into SBA-16.•The potential of the obtained photocatalysts in oxidation cyclohexene was studied.•The catalyst can be repeatedly applied for cyclohexene oxidation several times.

In this study, the SBA-16 was synthesized and modified by 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane. Then, the copper (II) meso-tetrakis(4-chlorophenyl)porphyrin (CuTClPP) was immobilized into SBA-16 (CuTClPP@SBA-16) by using ship in a bottle method. The synthesized mesoporous materials and heterogeneous catalyst were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), X-Ray diffraction (XRD), N2 adsorption–desorption (BET), elemental analysis (CHN), electron disperse X-ray (EDX), inductively coupled plasma (ICP-AES) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The catalytic activity of the obtained catalyst was examined in the oxidation of cyclohexene with t-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) as oxidants. The obtained products were determined by using gas chromatography (GC). The effect of visible light on oxidation efficiency was evaluated and results showed that the activity of catalyst increased under visible light. In addition, leaching and recycling experiments revealed that the catalyst can be repeatedly applied for cyclohexene oxidation for three successive cycles.

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide