Copper(II) Schiff base complex immobilized on graphene nanosheets: a heterogeneous catalyst for epoxidation of olefins

The present paper describes the preparation and characterization of Cu(II) Schiff base complex immobilized onto graphene oxide. The structural and morphological characterization of the heterogeneous catalyst was carried out by different techniques such as Fourier transform infrared and diffuse reflectance UV-Vis spectroscopies, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, nitrogen adsorption-desorption, transmission electron microscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy. The catalytic activity of the heterogeneous catalyst was studied in the epoxidation of various alkenes using tert-butyl hydroperoxide as an oxidant and it showed high selectivity and catalytic reactivity. The graphene-bound copper Schiff base was successfully reused for several runs without significant loss in its catalytic activity.