New ruthenium porphyrin polymeric membranes: Preparation and characterization

In this work, the ruthenium porphyrin complex Ru(4-(CF3)TPP)CO (1) (TPP = dianion of tetraphenylporphyrin) was entrapped into polymeric membranes during the phase inversion process to obtain new heterogeneous catalysts for aziridination reactions. In order to study the effect of the polymeric environment on the activity of the metallic complex, symmetric dense polymeric catalytic membranes were prepared using three different polymers: polyethersulphone (PES), polysulphone (PSf) and Hyflon AD60X. Different hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity characteristics, sorption properties and ability to retain the metallic complex characterized the catalytic polymeric membranes. On the basis of the good results compared to the other two polymers, Hyflon AD60X was selected to prepare asymmetric membranes with a skin layer on an open sublayer. The Hyflon AD60X membranes showed good catalytic activity in the aziridination reaction of α-methylstyrene by aryl azides and moreover they have been recycled without any loss in azide conversion and aziridine selectivity.

Graphical abstractThe first heterogeneous method to obtain aziridines using ruthenium porphyrin complexes embedded in Hyflon AD60X polymeric membranes is reported. The Hyflon AD60X membranes showed good catalytic activity in the aziridination reaction of α-methylstyrene by aryl azides and moreover they have been recycled three times without any loss in azide conversion and aziridine selectivity.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide