Novel tetrasubstituted zinc phthalocyanine-attapulgite composites for efficient catalytic oxidation of styrene with tert-butyl hydroperoxide as oxidant

Novel tetrasubstituted zinc phthalocyanine-attapulgite ([ZnPc(OC10H14N)(4)]-ATP) composites were prepared by an ultrasonic impregnation method. The obtained samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and Raman spectroscopy. The prepared [ZnPc (OC10H14N)(4)]-ATP composites are used as the catalyst for styrene oxidation reaction to obtain the major products of styrene oxide and benzaldehyde, and the effects of solvent, oxidant, temperature, time and catalyst dosage on the reaction were investigated. The results showed that the [ZnPc(OC10H14N)(4)]-ATP composites exhibited high catalytic activity in the styrene reaction with the solvent being DMF and the oxidant being TBHP. The highest styrene conversion (84.13%) was obtained under the optimum conditions of 6 h, 100 degrees C and 20 mg of catalyst. Additionally, the possible mechanism of selective oxidation of styrene by [ZnPc(OC10H14N)(4)]-ATP composites was also proposed.