One-pot hydrothermal synthesis of H3PW12O40 supported on zeolite imidazolate frameworks (ZIF-8): a highly efficient heterogeneous catalyst for oxidation of sulfides to sulfoxides and sulfones

Abstract

Abstract The microporous, sodalite-like zeolite imidazolate framework ZIF-8 [Zn(MeIM); MeIM = 2-methylimidazole] has been selected as a host matrix for stabilization of guest H3PW12O40 (PW12) in this study. To modify ZIF-8 by H3PW12O40 (PW12), a one-pot hydrothermal synthesis strategy has been developed and used in the chemoselective oxidation of sulfides to the corresponding sulfoxides (and sulfones) in the presence of 30 % H2O2 in ethanol (and CH3CN) as solvent. Some of the advantages of our method include excellent yields, heterogeneous conditions, simplicity, compatibility with a variety of functionalities, and ease of isolation of the products. X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive analysis X-ray spectroscopy, ultraviolet/visible rays, and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller have been used to characterize the samples prepared. Large-sized pores and cavities of ZIF-8 become occupied by PW12 units on modification with PW12, as shown by analysis results. This method might bring light to new opportunities in the development of high-performance polyoxometalate catalysts using rapidly growing ZIFs as supports.