Post-synthetic amine functionalized SAPO-5 & SAPO-34 molecular sieves for epoxide ring opening reactions

Abstract

SAPO-5 and SAPO-34 molecular sieves were synthesized by hydrothermal method and modified via post-synthetic amine functionalization using aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES). Functionalized materials were thoroughly characterized using powder XRD, N 2 adsorption, FT-IR, FE-SEM, TGA and 13 C-CP MAS NMR. Syntheses of β-phenoxy and β-amino alcohols were studied via the ring opening of epoxide with nitrogen containing (amines) or oxygen containing (alcohols) nucleophiles, respectively. Amine functionalized SAPO-5 and SAPO-34 molecular sieves were found to be active in epoxide ring opening reaction of propylene oxide with phenol for the major production of 1-phenoxy-2-propanol. Reaction conditions were optimized to achieve higher conversion and selectivity. SAPO-5-NH 2 was also found to be efficient with higher selectivity and conversion for other ring opening reactions using various epoxides and amines for the synthesis of β-amino alcohols. The experimental studies were compared with and complemented by the theoretical parameters.