Enhancement of Catalytic Activity in Epoxide Hydration by Increasing the Concentration of Cobalt(III)/Salen in Porous Polymer Catalysts.

The rational design of catalytic materials from the reaction characteristics is expected to be a useful strategy to create highly efficient catalysts. Herein, according to a well-established reaction pathway of epoxide hydration catalyzed a dual-molecular system of Co3+/salen in which a high concentration of active sites is favorable to enhance the activity, we provide an alternative way to prepare a highly efficient heterogeneous catalyst with a high concentration of Co3+/salen from the polymerization of vinyl-functionalized salen monomers followed by the loading of Co3+ species (Co3+/POL-salen). Co3+/POL-salen has a hierarchical porosity and an extraordinary hydrothermal stability. Importantly, catalytic tests in epoxide hydration demonstrate that Co3+/POL-salen affords excellent high activities, which are even better than those of the homogeneous version. This phenomenon is related to the very high concentration of Co3+/salen in the catalyst. In addition, this catalyst can be recycled readily because of its excellent hydrothermal stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]