Synthesis, Characterization and Catalytic Properties of Coordination Complexes Based on [Mo(CO)3(CH3CN)3] and Poly(4-vinylpyridine)

The synthesis, characterization, and catalytic properties of the zero-valent, group six metal complex formed by the reaction of [Mo(CO)3(CH3CN)3] and poly(4-vinylpyridine) (P(4-VP)) is described in this work. The pyridyl groups of the organic polymer are covalently bonded to the Mo centers as suggested by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) techniques. The polymer-immobilized metal catalyst was also characterized by DTA–TGA, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis and its morphology and elemental analyses were studied by scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X-ray (SEM/EDX) techniques. In the presence of 2-ethoxyethanol the solid is an active catalyst for the heterogeneous hydrogenation of styrene to ethyl benzene.