Synthesis and catalytic activity of polymer‐anchored metal complex for oxidation of cyclohexane

Catalytic oxidation of cyclohexane was investigated over polymer‐anchored Co(II) catalyst prepared by modification of polymer surface by NO_x and subsequent functinalization by amination. The catalyst characterized by various techniques, such as elemental analysis, atomic absorption spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR), thermo‐gravimetric analysis, and scanning electron microscopy confirmed the modification of polymer surface and bond formation between functionalized resin and metal ion. The oxidation of cyclohexane using molecular oxygen (O₂) as an oxidant was studied in the temperature and pressure range of 373–413 K and 1.0–1.4 MPa, respectively. The maximum cyclohexane conversion of 18.4% was obtained at 413 K and 1.2 MPa pressure. Cyclohexanone and cyclohexanol were found as the main reaction products with 93.0% selectivity. No appreciable change in catalytic activity and on product selectivity was observed after the catalyst recycled three times. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 130: 2127–2135, 2013