Ultrasound promoted green oxidation of alkenes with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of iron porphyrins supported on multi-walled carbon nanotubes

Abstract

In the present work, oxidation of alkenes with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of meso-tetrakis(4-hydroxyphenyl)porphyrinatoiron(III) chloride supported onto surface of functionalized multi-wall carbon nanotubes (FMWCNT), [ Fe ( THPP ) Cl@MWCNT ], is reported. The simple heterogeneous catalyst was characterized by FT-IR spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and also thermal analysis. The amount of the catalyst loaded on the nanotubes was determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy. This heterogeneous catalyst proved to be an efficient and green catalyst and was successfully able to activate hydrogen peroxide without any additive toward the oxidation of alkenes in ethanol as a green solvent. Performance of the catalyst in oxidation of various alkenes was inspected under reflux, ultrasonic irradiation and mechanical stirring. Moreover, the catalyst can be reused several times under similar conditions.