Synthesis, Structural Elucidation, and Application of a Pyrazolylpyridine–Molybdenum Oxide Composite as a Heterogeneous Catalyst for Olefin Epoxidation

A Molybdenum(VI) Complex of 5-(2-pyridyl-1-oxide)tetrazole: Synthesis, Structure, and Transformation into a MoO3-Based Hybrid Catalyst for the Epoxidation of Bio-Olefins

The discovery of heterogeneous catalysts synthesized in easy, sustainable ways for the valorization of olefins derived from renewable biomass is attractive from environmental, sustainability, and economic viewpoints. Here, an organic–inorganic hybrid catalyst formulated as [MoO3(Hpto)]·H2O (2), where Hpto = 5-(2-pyridyl-1-oxide)tetrazole, was prepared by a hydrolysis–condensation reaction of the complex [MoO2Cl2(Hpto)]∙THF (1). The characterization of 1 and 2 by FT-IR and Raman spectroscopies, as well as 13C solid-state NMR, suggests that the bidentate N,O-coordination of Hpto in 1 (forming a six-membered chelate ring, confirmed by X-ray crystallography) is maintained in 2, with the ligand coordinated to a molybdenum oxide substructure. Catalytic studies suggested that 2 is a rare case of a molybdenum oxide/organic hybrid that acts as a stable solid catalyst for olefin epoxidation with tert-butyl hydroperoxide. The catalyst was effective for converting biobased olefins, namely fatty acid methyl esters (methyl oleate, methyl linoleate, methyl linolenate, and methyl ricinoleate) and the terpene limonene, leading predominantly to the corresponding epoxide products with yields in the range of 85–100% after 24 h at 70 °C. The versatility of catalyst 2 was shown by its effectiveness for the oxidation of sulfides into sulfoxides and sulfones, at 35 °C (quantitative yield of sulfoxide plus sulfone, at 24 h; sulfone yields in the range of 77–86%). To the best of our knowledge, 2 is the first molybdenum catalyst reported for methyl linolenate epoxidation, and the first of the family [MoO3(L)x] studied for methyl ricinoleate epoxidation.

Synthesis and structural characterization of a new heterometallicmolybdate coordination polymer based on a µ3-bridging amino alcohol

The reaction of Na2MoO4·2H2O with 2-amino-2-(hydroxymethyl)propane-1,3-diol (LH) in water at room temperature results in the formation of the heterometallic coordination polymer [Mo2O6L2(Na2(H2O)4)]·2H2O 1 (L = 2-amino-3-hydroxy-2-(hydroxymethyl)propan-1-olato). The structure of 1 consists of a neutral (Mo2O6) unit located on an inversion center. The Mo atoms exhibit hexa-coordination and are bonded to two terminal and two bridging oxido ligands, an alkoxide oxygen and the amine N atoms of an anionic ligand L– resulting in the formation of an edge-sharing {Mo2O8N2} bioctahedron. The Na+ cations of a centrosymmetric bis(μ2-aqua)-bridged (Na2(H2O)4)2+ unit are penta-coordinated and bonded to two symmetry related L– ligands via the oxygen atoms of their OH groups. The µ3-bridging tetradentate binding mode of L– results in the formation of a two-dimensional heterometallic coordination polymer. The constituents of 1 viz. (Mo2O6), (L)–, (Na2(H2O)4)2+ and lattice water molecules are interlinked with the aid of three varieties of hydrogen bonding interactions. The corresponding tungstate reported recently has been obtained through a similar synthetic protocol and is isostructural.

A 5-(2-Pyridyl)tetrazolate Complex of Molybdenum(VI), Its Structure, and Transformation to a Molybdenum Oxide-Based Hybrid Heterogeneous Catalyst for the Epoxidation of Olefins

There is a considerable practical interest in discovering new ways to obtain organomolybdenum heterogeneous catalysts for olefin epoxidation that are easier to recover and reuse and display enhanced productivity. In this study, the complex salt (H2pytz)[MoO2Cl2(pytz)] (1) (Hpytz = 5-(2-pyridyl)tetrazole) has been prepared, structurally characterized, and employed as a precursor for the hydrolysis-based synthesis of a microcrystalline molybdenum oxide/organic hybrid material formulated as [MoO3(Hpytz)] (2). In addition to single-crystal X-ray diffraction (for 1), compounds 1 and 2 were characterized by FT-IR and Raman spectroscopies, solid-state 13C{1H} cross-polarization (CP) magic-angle spinning (MAS) NMR, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Compounds 1 and 2 were evaluated as olefin epoxidation catalysts using the model reaction of cis-cyclooctene (Cy8) with tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP), at 70 °C, which gave 100% epoxide selectivity up to 100% conversion. While 1 behaved as a homogeneous catalyst, hybrid 2 behaved as a heterogeneous catalyst and could be recovered for recycling without showing structural degradation or loss of catalytic performance over consecutive reaction cycles. The substrate scope was broadened to monoterpene DL-limonene (Lim) and biobased unsaturated fatty acid methyl esters, methyl oleate (MeOle), and methyl linoleate (MeLin), which gave predominantly epoxide products.

A Molybdenum Trioxide Hybrid Decorated by 3-(1,2,4-Triazol-4-yl)adamantane-1-carboxylic Acid: A Promising Reaction-Induced Self-Separating (RISS) Catalyst

3-(1,2,4-Triazol-4-yl)adamantane-1-carboxylic acid (tradcH), a heterobifunctional organic ligand in which carboxylic acid and 1,2,4-triazole groups are united through a rigid 1,3-adamantanediyl spacer, was employed for the synthesis of a Mo^VI oxide organic hybrid. The ligand crystallized from water as tradcH·H₂O (1), possessing a two-dimensional hydrogen-bonding network, and from ethanol as a cyclic molecular solvate with the composition (tradcH)₃·2EtOH (2). Treatment of tradcH with MoO₃ under hydrothermal conditions afforded a new Mo trioxide hybrid, [MoO₃(tradcH)]·H₂O (3), which was structurally characterized. In 3, the molybdenum atoms form a polymeric zigzag chain of {μ₂-O-MoO₂}_n which is supported by double triazole bridges, while the carboxylic acid termini are left uncoordinated. The coordination environment of the Mo centers appears as distorted cis-{MoN₂O₄} octahedra. The hybrid exhibits high thermal stability (up to 270 °C) and was employed for a relatively broad scope of catalytic oxidation reactions in the liquid phase. Its catalytic behavior may be compared to a reversible mutation, featuring the best sides of homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysis. The original solid material converts into soluble active species, and the latter revert to the original material upon completion of the catalytic reaction, precipitating and allowing straightforward catalyst separation/reuse (like a heterogeneous catalyst). This catalyst was explored for a chemical reaction scope covering sulfoxidation, oxidative alcohol dehydrogenation, aldehyde oxidation, and olefin epoxidation, using hydrogen peroxide as an eco-friendly oxidant that gives water as a coproduct.

Molybdenum complexes with a μ-O{MoO2}2 core: their synthesis, crystal structure and application as catalysts for the oxidation of bicyclic alcohols using N-based additives

Binuclear molybdenum(vi) complexes with a μ-O{MoO₂}₂ core as catalysts for the oxidation of bicyclic alcohols (fenchyl alcohol and isoborneol), using 30% H₂O₂ as the oxidant in the presence of NEt₃ as the additive, are reported.