Oxidation of Alkenes with tert-Butyl Hydroperoxide Catalyzed by Mn(II), Cu(II) and VO(IV) Schiff Base Complexes Encapsulated in the Zeolite-Y: A Comparative Study

Oxovanadium(IV), manganese(II) and copper(II) complexes of a Schiff base ligand derived from 2,4-dihydroxyacetophenone and 1,2-diaminocyclohexane have been encapsulated in the nanocavity of zeolite-Y by flexible ligand method and characterized by metal analysis, IR spectroscopic studies and X-ray diffraction patterns. The encapsulated complexes abbreviated here as CuL-Y, MnL-Y and VOL-Y catalyze the oxidation of various olefins using tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) as oxidant in good yield (α-methyl styrene: 75%). The catalytic activity of the encapsulated Schiff base complexes decreased in the order CuL-Y > VOL-Y > MnL-Y.