Styrene-hydroxyethyl methacrylate copolymer-supported porphyrinatomanganese(III) complexes: synthesis and catalytic cyclohexane hydroxylation with molecular oxygen

Two new styrene-hydroxyethyl methacrylate copolymers containing immobilized porphyrinatomanganese(III) were prepared and characterized as microspheres by SEM, UV-Vis, FT-IR, and TG-DTG. Their catalytic activities have been investigated for the hydroxylation of cyclohexane in the presence of molecular oxygen under mild conditions. The copolymer microspheres proved to be more efficient catalysts than the corresponding non-supported porphyrinatomanganese(III) complex. The alkylated polymer microspheres with porphyrinatomanganese(III) had the highest catalytic activity, which may be attributable to the hydrophobic microenvironment around the porphyrinatomanganese(III) centers, resulting from the alkyl groups.