Epoxidation of cis-cyclooctene with molecular oxygen catalyzed by magnesium oxide supported polytitazane cobalt (III) complexes

Magnesium oxide supported polytitazane cobalt (III) complex is demonstrated as an effective catalyst for the epoxidation of cis-cyclooctene with molecular oxygen at atmospheric pressure in the presence of isobutyraldehyde as the sacrificial reductant. XPS data show that the high-valent cobalt (III) is stabilized by the multidentate nitrogen ligand of polytitazane. The conversion of cis-cyclooctene is as high as 95.2% with 100% selectivity to the cis-cyclooctene oxide at 25°C within 5 h. The catalyst can be used at least nine times without loss of its activity.