Styrene–hydroxyethyl methacrylate copolymer microsphere immobilized porphyrinatomanganese(III) as a mild, reusable and highly efficient catalyst for epoxidation of cyclohexene with molecular oxygen

On the basis of synthesis of styrene–hydroxyethyl methacrylate copolymer microspheres with a functionalized hydroxyl, we have prepared a new type of copolymer microspheres immobilized porphyrinatomanganese(III), P(St-co-HEMA)MnP, by a condensation reaction between a hydroxyl in copolymer microspheres surface and a carboxyl in porphyrin ring. The obtained copolymer catalyst (P(St-co-HMEA)MnP) was characterized by SEM, UV–vis, IR, ICP and TG–DTG. The SEM image shows that the morphology of the copolymer catalyst is spheriform with ca. 4 μm diameter. The catalytic activity of P(St-co-HMEA)MnP to epoxidize cyclohexene in the presence of molecular oxygen and isobutylaldehyde has been studied. The catalytic efficiency of P(St-co-HMEA)MnP is comparable to that of non-supported MnCMPTTP. It is a mild, reusable and highly efficient heterogeneous catalyst for the epoxidation of cyclohexene.

Graphical abstractA new type of copolymer microspheres immobilized porphyrinatomanganese(III) was prepared and used to catalyze cyclohexene epoxidation in the presence of molecular oxygen and isobutylaldehyde.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload high-quality image (43 K)Download as PowerPoint slide