MoO2(acac)2 anchored on organic copolymer-inorganic hybrid zirconium phosphonate-phosphate functionalized by pyridines as highly efficient, reusable catalysts for alkene epoxidation

•MoO2(acac)2 was immobilized on ZnPS-PVPA modified by pyridines.•The configuration of the substrates and ligand influence the catalytic disposition.•The catalysts could be reused at least nine times with superior activity.•The catalysts could be used in large-scale reactions with superior disposition.

The supported molybdenyl acetylacetonate on organic polymer-inorganic hybrid material zirconium poly(styrene-phenylvinylphosphonate)-phosphate (ZPS-PVPA) modified by pyridines, have been synthesized and characterized. The resulting catalysts indicate high activities in the epoxidation of olefins with TBHP as oxidant (conv%, up to >99; sele%, up to >99) whether in experimental scale or in large-scale reactions. Moreover, the catalysts are relatively stable and could be recycled at least ten times without significant loss of activities, which are provided with the potentiality for application in industry.

Graphical abstractThe immobilized MoO2(acac)2 onto ZPS-PVPA indicates superior catalytic ability both for experimental scale and for large-scale reactions.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide