Preparation of MCM-41 Supported Salen Vanadium Complex and its Catalysis for the Oxidation of Cyclohexane with HO as an Oxidant.

secondary amino group modified MCM-41 (mobile crystalline material number 41) was synthesized and used as a support for the immobilization of a salen oxovanadium complex via a multi-grafting method. The immobilized complex was characterized by UV-Vis spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), N adsorption and ICP analysis techniques. The immobilized complex was found to be an effective catalyst for oxidation of cyclohexane using HO as an oxidant under mild conditions. A conversion of 45.5% of cyclohexane was obtained with a selectivity of 100% of the cyclohexanone/cyclohexanol mixture when the reaction was run at 60 °C for 12 h in acetonitrile. Decomposition of the complex, which leads to the deactivation of the catalyst, is observed and a decomposition mechanism is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]