Catalysis Letters, Vol.107, No.3-4, 197-203, 2006
Oxidation of 2,6-di-tert-butylphenols to diphenoquinones catalysed by Schiff base-Cu(II) systems immobilized on polymer support
Benzoquinone, diphenoquinones and its derivatives are important intermediates for industrial synthesis of a wide variety of special chemicals, such as pharmaceuticals, dyes and agricultural chemicals. The useful catalyst were obtained by aminolysis of vinylbenzyl chloride/divinylbenzene copolymer with ethylenediamine (1) or urotropine (2) and then modification by salicylaldehyde (1A, 2A) or picolinaldehyde (1B, 2B). The catalytic activity of Cu(II) complexes with Schiff base immobilized on the synthesized supports were tested in the oxidation reaction of 2,6-di-tert-butylphenol (DTBP) to diphenoquinone (PQ) with tert-butylhydroperoxide. The best oxidation degree of DTBP (60-70%) and the selectivity towards PQ (80%) is revealed by Cu(II) complexes with long Schiff base ligands derived from salicylaldimine (1A), which have CuL structure (EPR measurement).