Magnetically Reusable MnFe2O4 Nanoparticles Modified with Oxo-Peroxo Mo (VI) Schiff-Base Complexes: A High Efficiency Catalyst for Olefin Epoxidation under Solvent-Free Conditions

In this research work, we report on the preparation of a new catalyst based on MnFe2O4 nanoparticles modified with an oxo-peroxo molybdenum (VI) Schiff base complex. The catalyst was characterized by various techniques, including Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The epoxidation catalytic activity of the developed catalyst was tested on various alkenes by t-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) as oxidant under solvent-free condition. The catalyst showed excellent conversion (>99%), selectivity (100%), turn over frequency (9504h(-1)), and a short reaction time (5min). Moreover, the catalyst is recoverable up to five cycles with no significant loss in selectivity towards epoxide.