The synthesis, characterization and catalytic application of manganese porphyrins bonded to novel modified SBA-15

In the presented research, a highly ordered mesoporous silica material (SBA-15) was functionalized with imidazole as a functionalizing reagent (SBA-TMSIm) and then characterized via FT-IR spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) and nitrogen adsorption/desorption isotherms. SBA-TMSIm was used as a support for the coordinative anchoring of tetraphenylporphyrinato-manganese(III) acetate [Mn(TPP)OAc] via axial ligation. The prepared catalyst was characterized using different spectroscopic methods and the amount of loaded metalloporphyrin on SBA-TMSIm was determined via atomic absorption spectroscopy. Finally, the immobilized metalloporphyrin was found to be an efficient catalyst for the oxidation of styrene with molecular oxygen and isobutyraldehyde (IBA) as co-oxidants. In addition, this aerobic oxidation system was used to oxidize various olefins and the results showed that their epoxides were the major products.