Synthesis and catalytic activity of organic–inorganic hybrid catalysts coordinated with cobalt(II) ions for aerobic epoxidation of styrene

•Hybrid Co–HM was prepared via DGC synthesis and coordination with Co2 + ions.•Co–HM was firstly applied in the aerobic epoxidation of alkenes.•Co-coordinated organic–inorganic hybrid material Co–HM-50 was the most active.•The best result was 95.8 mol% conversion of styrene with 89.2% epoxide selectivity.•The catalysts are highly reusable heterogeneous catalysts.

New organic–inorganic hybrid materials (HM) containing 3-mercaptopropyl groups (–(CH2)3–SH) have been synthesized through a dry gel conversion (DGC) route. The complex catalyst Co–HM was prepared through a simple coordination of –SH with cobalt(II) ions, which was firstly applied in the aerobic epoxidation of alkenes to obtain good results. Co–HM-50 exhibited the highest activity for the epoxidation of styrene with air to achieve 95.8 mol% of conversion with the epoxide selectivity of 89.2%. Recycling and control tests showed high durability and heterogeneity of Co–HM-50 as a heterogeneous catalyst.

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