New Catalysts Based on Poly(aspartic acid) for Oxidation Reaction

In the current work we describe synthesis of novel poly(D, L-aspartic acid) catalysts for oxidation reactions. The catalysts were prepared by a three-step reaction procedure. First, poly(D, L-aspartic acid) (PAA) was synthesized by polycondensation reaction D, L-aspartic acid with propylene carbonate under microwave irradiation. In the second stage, poly(aspartic acid) sodium salt (PAA-Na) was obtained during the reaction of hydrolysis of cyclic forms of PAA in water solutions of sodium. The last stage of catalysts synthesis were reaction of poly(aspartic acid) sodium salt with cobalt or copper acetate. FTIR, H-1 NMR, SEM, SEM-EDS, and SIMS were employed for characterization of the obtained catalysts were employed for characterization of the obtained catalysts. Oxidation reactions of some compounds were carried out on synthesized catalysts at atmospheric pressure in the presence of molecular oxygen. As the main products epoxides and ketone were obtained with very high yield and selectivity.