Synthesis and investigation of anchored copper (II) complexes within MCM-41 as selective catalysts for epoxidation of olefins

In the present study, preparation, characterization and catalytic activity of encapsulated copper (II) complexes within MCM-41 were investigated. The mesoporous molecular sieve MCM-41 was synthesized and grafted with 3-(trimethoxysilyl)-1-propanethiol to give a thiol modified material (MCM-41-S). The prepared material successively was reacted with acrylic acid and acrylonitrile to give AA-MCM-41 and AN-MCM-41, respectively. Using hexamethyldisilazane and copper (II) chloride, copper (II) complexes in the cavities of MCM-41 (Cu-AA-MCM-41 and Cu-AN-MCM-41) were prepared. The presence of copper (II) complex on the surfaces of host matrix and the structure of prepared catalyst is investigated by FT-IR, inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) and BET nitrogen adsorption–desorption methods. The catalytic activities of the catalysts were studied in epoxidation of olefins. The results showed that activities of the prepared catalysts (Cu-AA-MCM-41 and Cu-AN-MCM-41) and their selectivity to corresponding epoxides were more than those of MCM-41. In addition, the synthesized heterogeneous catalysts were truly reusable.