CATALYTIC PROPERTIES OF VPI-5 ENGAGED IRON-PHTHALOCYANINES

Iron-phthalocyanines are synthesized into a VPI-5 molecular sieve via a ligand exchange reaction starting from a mixture of solids containing ferrocene, 1,2-dicyanobenzene and VPI-5. The nature and loading of the catalyst is verified by Vis-NIR, FTIR and solid state C-13-NMR. Molecular modelling shows that the phthalocyanines can accommodate in the VPI-5 structure without distortion of the macrochelate or of the molecular sieve. However most of the different orientations of the phthalocyanines in the 18-MR channels of VPI-5 would cause pore-blockage. Nevertheless activity of these catalysts for the catalytic oxidation of cycloalkanes at room temperature and 0.1 MPa with tertiary butyl hydroperoxide as oxygen donor is reasonably high. Reagent shape selective effects are shown and the ratio of secondary to tertiary carbon atom oxidation of adamantane is in the frame of the oxo-chemistry as for porphyrin complexes, polyoxometallates and cytochrome P-450.