Aluminosilicate obtained by sol–gel process as support for an anionic iron porphyrin: Development of a selective and reusable catalyst for oxidation reactions

Robust Mn(III) N-pyridylporphyrin-based biomimetic catalysts for hydrocarbon oxidations: heterogenization on non-functionalized silica gel versus chloropropyl-functionalized silica gel

Two classes of heterogenized biomimetic catalysts were prepared and characterized for hydrocarbon oxidations: (1) by covalent anchorage of the three Mn(iii) meso-tetrakis(2-, 3-, or 4-pyridyl)porphyrin isomers by in situ alkylation with chloropropyl-functionalized silica gel (Sil-Cl) to yield Sil-Cl/MnPY (Y = 1, 2, 3) materials, and (2) by electrostatic immobilization of the three Mn(iii) meso-tetrakis(N-methylpyridinium-2, 3, or 4-yl)porphyrin isomers (MnPY, Y = 4, 5, 6) on non-modified silica gel (SiO2) to yield SiO2/MnPY (Y = 4, 5, 6) materials. Silica gel used was of column chromatography grade and Mn porphyrin loadings were deliberately kept at a low level (0.3% w/w). These resulting materials were explored as catalysts for iodosylbenzene (PhIO) oxidation of cyclohexane, n-heptane, and adamantane to yield the corresponding alcohols and ketones; the oxidation of cyclohexanol to cyclohexanone was also investigated. The heterogenized catalysts exhibited higher efficiency and selectivity than the corresponding Mn porphyrins under homogeneous conditions. Recycling studies were consistent with low leaching/destruction of the supported Mn porphyrins. The Sil-Cl/MnPY catalysts were more efficient and more selective than SiO2/MnPY ones; alcohol selectivity may be associated with hydrophobic silica surface modification reminiscent of biological cytochrome P450 oxidations. The use of widespread, column chromatography, amorphous silica yielded Sil-Cl/MnPY or SiO2/MnPY catalysts considerably more efficient than the corresponding, previously reported materials with mesoporous Santa Barbara Amorphous No 15 (SBA-15) silica. Among the materials studied, in situ derivatization of Mn(iii) 2-N-pyridylporphyrin by covalent immobilization on Sil-Cl to yield Sil-Cl/MnP1 showed the best catalytic performance with high stability against oxidative destruction and reusability/recyclability.

Studies of the Catalytic Activity of Iron (III) Porphyrins for the Protection of Carbonyl Groups in Homogeneous Media

The protection of carbonyl groups that produce acetal products is a key reaction in fine chemistry due to the high reactivity of aldehydes and ketones in certain media. This process can be catalyzed by protic or Lewis acids. Since metalloporphyrins often possess free axial positions in the central metal, they can be applied as Lewis acid catalysts, allowing the additional coordination of substrates. Therefore, three ferric complexes were selected to be evaluated as catalysts for the acetalization of benzaldehyde with ethanol and triethyl orthoformate (TEOF) in the homogeneous phase: (i) 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(phenylporphyrin) iron (III) chloride (Fe0F); (ii) 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(2,6-difluorphenylporphyrin) iron (III) chloride (Fe2F); and (iii) 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(pentafluorphenylporphyrin) iron (III) chloride (Fe5F). The complex Fe5F showed the highest catalytic activity, and kinetic parameters were evaluated for this reaction, exhibiting an increasing rate of reaction of about 550-fold in comparison with the non-catalyzed reaction. The reaction scope was also investigated, and Fe5F was found to be active for the acetalization of benzaldehyde and acetophenone, with different protective agents such as alcohols, glycols, glycerol, and epoxide being selective for the formation of cyclic acetals. The protection of benzaldehyde with ethylene glycol and propylene glycol were also studied at different temperatures, and turnover frequency (TOF) values of up to 360 h−1 were determined at 40 °C in homogenous media without the need for solvent or drying agents.

Selective oxidation catalysts obtained by immobilization of iron(III) porphyrins on thiosalicylic acid-modified Mg-Al layered double hydroxides

Nitrate-intercalated Mg-Al layered double hydroxides (LDHs) were synthesized and exfoliated in formamide. Reaction of the single layer suspension with thiosalicylic acid under different conditions afforded two types of solids: LDHA1, in which the outer surface was modified with the anion thiosalicylate, and LDHA2, which contained the anion thiosalicylate intercalated between the LDH layers. LDHA1 and LDHA2 were used as supports to immobilize neutral (FeP1 and FeP2) and anionic (FeP3) iron(III) porphyrins. For comparison purposes, the iron(III) porphyrins (FePs) were also immobilized on LDH intercalated with nitrate anions obtained by the co-precipitation method. Chemical modification of LDH facilitated immobilization of the FePs through interaction of the functionalizing groups in LDH with the peripheral substituents on the porphyrin ring. The resulting FePx-LDHAy solids were characterized by X-ray diffraction (powder) and UV-Vis and EPR spectroscopies and were investigated as catalysts in the oxidation of cyclooctene and cyclohexane. The immobilized neutral FePs and their homogeneous counterparts gave similar product yields in the oxidation of cyclooctene, suggesting that immobilization of the FePs on the thiosalicylate-modified LDHs only supported the catalyst species without interfering in the catalytic outcome. On the other hand, in the oxidation of cyclohexane, the thiosalicylate anions on the outer surface of LDHA1 or intercalated between the LDHA2 layers influenced the catalytic activity of FePx-LDHAy, leading to different efficiency and selectivity results. FeP1-LDHA2 performed the best (29.6% alcohol yield) due to changes in the polarity of the surface of the support and the presence of FeP1. Interestingly, FeP1 also performed better in solution as compared to the other FePs. Finally, it was possible to recycle FeP1-LDHA2 at least three times.

Spectroscopic study of porphyrin-caffeine interactions

The association between water-soluble porphyrins: 4,4′,4″,4‴-(21 H,23 H-porphine-5,10,15,20-tetrayl)tetrakis-(benzoic acid) (H₂TCPP), 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-sulfonatophenyl)-21 H,23 H-porphine (H₂TPPS₄), 5,10,15,20-tetrakis[4-(trimethylammonio)phenyl]-21 H,23 H-porphine tetra-p-tosylate (H₂TTMePP), 5,10,15,20-tetrakis(1-methyl-4-pyridyl)-21 H,23 H-porphine tetra-p-tosylate (H₂TMePyP), the Cu(II) complexes of H₂TTMePP and H₂TMePyP, as well as chlorophyll a with caffeine (1,3,7-trimethylxanthine) has been studied analysing their absorption and emission spectra in aqueous (or acetone in case of chlorophyll a) solution. During the titration by caffeine the porphyrins absorption spectra undergo the evolution – the bathochromic effect can be observed as well as the hypochromicity of the Soret maximum. The association constants were calculated using curve-fitting procedure (K_AC of the order of magnitude of 10³ mol^-1). Whereas the emission spectra point at the presence of the fluorescence quenching effect testifying for the partial inactivation of the porphyrin molecule. The fluorescence quenching constants were calculated from Stern-Volmer plots. The results obtained show that caffeine can interact with water-soluble porphyrins and through formation of stacking complexes is able to quench their ability to emission.

Immobilization of anionic iron(III) porphyrins onto in situ obtained zinc oxide

A family of anionic iron(III) porphyrins (FePor) was immobilized onto zinc oxide (ZnO) obtained by the in situ hydrothermal decomposition of zinc hydroxide nitrate, a layered hydroxide salt. The immobilization probably occurred via the interaction between the anionic charges on the porphyrins and the positively charged surface of the ZnO, in slightly acidic to neutral pH. The resulting solids were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRDP), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis) (solid samples), which confirmed the formation of ZnO and the immobilization of the FePor. The prepared materials were employed as catalysts for the heterogeneous catalytic oxidation of cyclooctene, cyclohexane, and n-heptane, using iodosylbenzene as the oxygen donor. Good catalytic results were achieved for all the substrates, and selectivity for the alcohol was verified during the oxidation of alkanes. The reuse capacity of the solid catalyst was also investigated.

Catalysts for heterogeneous oxidation reaction based on metalloporphyrins immobilized on kaolinite modified with triethanolamine

Raw kaolinite was modified with triethanolamine (TEA), in an attempt to create a new support for the immobilization of metalloporphyrins. Anionic metalloporphyrins containing Fe(3+) or Mn(3+) as metallic centers were immobilized on the prepared support, and the obtained solids were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), thermal analysis (thermogravimetric and differential thermal analyses--TGA/DTA), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The solids were used in heterogeneous oxidation catalysis of cyclooctene and cyclohexane. The yields from the oxidation of cyclooctene depended on the amount of TEA and/or water present in the solids. Good reaction yields were obtained for the oxidation of cyclohexane, with selectivity for the alcohol. In one specific case, a possible co-catalytic activity was verified for TEA during the oxidation of cyclohexane.

Manganese(III) Porphyrin Covalently Bound to sol-gel Derived Silica (Mn(III) Porphyrinosilica): A Reusable and Green Heterogeneous Photocatalyst for Oxidative Decarboxylation of α-Arylacetic Acids with H2O2

Manganese(III) (5,10,15,20-tetrakis(2,6-dichlorophenyl)porphyrin)chloride, MnIII(TDCPP)Cl, was chemically (covalently) bound to a silica matrix by a sol-gel method and used as a new reusable heterogeneous photocatalyt for the selective and efficient oxidative decarboxylation of α-arylacetic acids with H2O2 as a mild and clean oxidant at room temperature. The activity of this heterogeneous photocatalytic system is higher than that of a corresponding homogeneous systems and the catalyst can be reused several times without loss of its activity and selectivity.