Catalase and epoxidation activity of polynuclear manganese(III)-Schiff base complexes

Polynucleating Schiff base ligands, poly(2,5-dihydroxyterephthalaldehyde ethylenediamine diprotonated) (PdhterenH(2)) and poly(2,5-dihydroxyterephthalaldehyde propyldiamine diprotonated) (PdhterpnH(2)) were synthesized by condensation reactions of 2,5-dihydroxyterephthalaldehyde (dhterH(2)) with ethylenediamine and propylenediamine, respectively. Insoluble polynuclear manganese(III)-Schiff base complexes, [Mn-n(Pdhteren)(OAc)(n)] 1 and [Mn-n(Pdhterpn)(OAc)(n)] 2 were prepared by refluxing manganese(III)-acetate and the respective polymeric Schiff bases in ethanol. The catalase activity of these complexes were studied in aqueous, dimethylformamide and methanol medium. These complexes catalyze the epoxidation of cyclohexene with H2O2 in the presence of imidazole. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.