Encapsulation of vanadium complexes in inorganic or hybrid matrices via the sol-gel method: application to the epoxidation of allylic alcohols

ARTICLE

Encapsulation of vanadium complexes in inorganic or hybrid matrices via the sol-gel method: application to the epoxidation of allylic alcohols

Rodolfo B. Pellegrino; Regina Buffon ^*

Instituto de Química, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, CP 6154, 13084-971 Campinas - SP, Brazil

ABSTRACT

Vanadium complexes have been encapsulated in inorganic (based on hydrolysis/condensation of tetramethylorthosilicate - TMOS) and hybrid matrices (TMOS plus a co-condensation agent) using the sol-gel method. The resulting solids were tested in the epoxidation of allylic alcohols in the presence of tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) as the oxidant agent at 70 ºC. When the catalyst was based on [VO(salen)], the hybrid matrix led to higher initial turnover frequencies than the inorganic one for all tested alcohols (trans-3-phenyl-2-methyl-2-propen-1-ol, trans-2-hexen-1-ol, cis-2-hexen-1-ol, 1-octen-3-ol), which might be related to its higher pore diameter. Although no vanadium leaching was observed during the catalytic reactions, recycling experiments with the hybrid catalyst and trans-2-hexen-1-ol showed that some loss of vanadium took place at every Soxhlet washing (performed after every run, using CH₂Cl₂): a total of 1.5 wt.% after three reactions. In four successive runs, keeping the initial molar ratios, conversions decreased from 100% to 85%, 65% and 40% (in 5h).

Keywords: vanadium, epoxidation, allylic alcohols, sol-gel method

RESUMO

Complexos de vanádio foram encapsulados em matrizes inorgânicas (baseadas na hidrólise/condensação de tetrametilortossilicato - TMOS) e híbridas (TMOS e um agente de co-condensação) pelo método sol-gel. Os sólidos resultantes foram testados na epoxidação de álcoois alílicos na presença de hidroperóxido de terc-butila (TBHP) como agente oxidante, a 70 ºC. Para o catalisador baseado em [VO(salen)], a matriz híbrida levou a maiores freqüências de turnover iniciais do que a matriz inorgânica para todos os álcoois testados (trans-3-fenil-2-metil-2-propen-1-ol, trans-2-hexen-1-ol, cis-2-hexen-1-ol, 1-octen-3-ol), o que pode estar relacionado com seu maior diâmetro de poros. Embora não tenha sido observada lixiviação de vanádio nas reações catalíticas, os experimentos de reciclagem com o catalisador híbrido e trans-2-hexen-1-ol mostraram perda de vanádio em cada lavagem com Soxhlet (efetuada após cada corrida, usando CH₂Cl₂), totalizando 1,5% em massa após 3 reações. Em 4 corridas sucessivas, mantendo as relações molares iniciais, as conversões decresceram de 100% a 85%, 65% e 40% (em 5h).

Introduction

[VO(acac)₂] is one of the best and most extensively studied catalyst for the epoxidation of unsaturated alcohols.¹ The combination [VO(acac)₂]/tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) has proved to produce a highly regio- and stereoselective homogeneous system for the epoxidation of allylic^2-4 and homoallylic alcohols.⁵ Homogeneous catalysis, however, presents several drawbacks, in particular the recovering of the catalyst at the end of the process, warranting a search for supported-vanadium catalysts. There are several reports about the immobilization of [VO(acac)₂] and VO₃- onto functionalized polystyrene resins.^6-10 The vanadium complexes have also been attached to ion-exchange resins.^11,12 More recently, the microencapsulation of [VO(acac)₂] in polystyrene was reported to produce an almost leaching-free system active at room temperature.¹³ In the last years, the sol-gel method has been applied as an alternative to immobilize soluble catalysts, using either inorganic¹⁴ or hybrid¹⁵ matrices. Recently, we reported the use of this approach to prepare rhenium- and molybdenum-based epoxidation catalysts,^16,17 as well as ruthenium- and rhodium-based catalysts for the hydrogenation and hydroformylation of olefins, respectively.^18,19 Depending on the characteristics of the matrix, leaching-free systems could be prepared. We wish to report here some results concerning the encapsulation of vanadium catalysts in inorganic and hybrid matrices using the sol-gel method and their use in the epoxidation of allylic alcohols.

Experimental

Chemicals

[VO(acac)₂], tert-butyl hydroperoxide 5.0 mol dm^-3 in decane, salicylaldehyde, tetramethylorthosilicate (TMOS), cis-cyclooctene and the alcohols trans-3-phenyl-2-methyl-2-propen-1-ol, trans-2-hexen-1-ol, cis-2-hexen-1-ol and 1-octen-3-ol were purchased from Aldrich and used as received. [VO(salen)],²⁰ SalenH₂²¹ and 1,4-bis(triethoxysilyl)benzene²² were prepared according to the literature. Solvents were treated following standard procedures.

Catalyst preparation

Catalysts based on [VO(acac)₂], I. 6 cm³ (40.3mmol) of TMOS, 5 cm³ of THF, 10 cm³ of methanol, 0.20 g (7.54 10^-4 mol) of [VO(acac)₂] and 2.5 cm³ of deionized water (pH 2.0, adjusted with concentrated HCl) were mixed in a rounded bottom flask. After 20 min under magnetic stirring, 10 cm³ of a 1.81 mmol dm^-3 solution of K₂CO₃ were added to the homogeneous solution and a greenish-blue gel was formed. Upon drying under vacuum, a red-brown solid was formed. It was then crushed in a mortar, washed with CH₂Cl₂ in a Soxhlet and dried again under vacuum.

Catalysts based on [VO(salen)], II. 1 g (ca. 4.0 mmol) of salenH₂, 24 cm³ (161.3 mmol) of TMOS, 12 cm³ of 1,4-bis(triethoxysilyl)benzene (co-condensation agent, in the case of a hybrid matrix), 40 cm³ of methanol and 10 cm³ of deionized water (pH 2.0, adjusted with concentrated HCl) were mixed in a beaker. After 70 min under magnetic stirring, 12 drops of concentrated HCl were added to the solution, which was then allowed to stand for one week. The resulting gel was dried under vacuum for two days and crushed in a mortar. The granules were allowed to react with 1.2 g (4.5 mmol) of a solution of [VO(acac)₂] in CH₂Cl₂ for 24 h. The green solid was washed with CH₂Cl₂ in a Soxhlet, and dried under vacuum at room temperature.

All materials were stored under air at room temperature.

Catalyst characterization

Nitrogen adsorption isotherms were determined at -196 ºC with a Micromeritics ASAP 2010 automated porosimeter. All calculations were performed using the associated Micromeritics software. Samples were degassed at 80 ºC for a minimum of 24 h prior to measurements.

Vanadium concentrations were determined by X-ray fluorescence using a Shimadzu EDX-700 equipment (rhodium lamp and K_a line from vanadium) or through ICP-EAS (Perkin Elmer Optima 3000 DV). Infrared spectra were recorded on a Bomem MB Series FT-IR spectrometer (resolution: 4 cm^-1).

Catalytic experiments

All experiments were carried out at 70 ºC in a Schlenk flask equipped with a septum. In a typical experiment, 5 cm³ of toluene, 466 mg of the inorganic catalyst (0.155 mmol V), 498 mg of 1-octen-3-ol (3.88 mmol), 100 ml of cyclooctane (internal standard) and 0.52 cm³ of a solution of TBHP in decane (5.12 mmol) were employed. For recycling experiments, the catalyst was separated by filtration, washed with CH₂Cl₂ in a Soxhlet, dried under vacuum and used in a new run. GC analyses were performed in an HP5890 series II gas chromatograph, equipped with an HP5 capillary column (50 m x 0.2 mm) and a flame ionization detector. Conversions of the substrates were determined using calibration curves obtained with standard solutions. Products were identified by GC/MS using an HP5973 equipment. TBHP consumption was determined by iodometric titration.

Results and Discussion

The first experiments were carried out using [VO(acac)₂] in order to determine the viability of immobilization with this type of species in matrices derived from hydrolysis/condensation of tetramethylorthosilicate without significant losses in its catalytic activity. Further experiments, already using [VO(salen)], involved also the use of a co-condensation agent, which was expected to decrease the degree of 3D-cross-linking, and thus the rigidity of the matrix.

Preparation and characterization of the catalysts

The solids based on [VO(acac)₂] (catalyst I) were prepared according to a method previously described for the preparation of molybdenum-based catalysts.¹⁷ This procedure, however, could not be applied to [VO(salen)]: although several solvents were tested (THF, THF/CH₂Cl₂, CH₃CN), the complex always crystallized outside the m atrix. An alternative route was then evaluated: the ligand was firstly immobilized into an hybrid or inorganic matrix, and then allowed to react with [VO(acac)₂]. The success of the reaction was proved by FT-IR analyses: the band at 680 cm^-1, characteristic of the acac^- ligand,²³ disappeared while the band assignable to n_sym(V=O) was shifted from 997 to 980 cm^-1, in good agreement with the literature.²⁰ Solids based on [VO(salen)] (catalysts II) are called a or b depending on the nature of the matrix, inorganic or hybrid (using the co-condensation agent), respectively.

Some characteristics of the catalysts are presented in Table 1. The nitrogen adsorption/desorption isotherms obtained for all catalysts are a mixture of type I and IV, i. e. a mixture of microporous and mesoporous systems (Figure 1).^24,25 The volumes adsorbed at the lowest relative pressures represent ca. 50 and 42% of the total pore volume for catalysts IIa and IIb, respectively, corresponding to a significant proportion of micropores. The micropore size distribution is also shown in Figure 1, being narrower for catalyst IIa. Catalysts Ia and IIa presented the same characteristics. The hysteresis loop observed for catalyst IIb suggests the presence of ink-bottle or narrow-mouth shaped pores.²⁶

Catalytic experiments

Initially, [VO(acac)₂] and [VO(salen)] were tested in the epoxidation of cyclooctene in a toluene solution using a molar ratio [V]:[olefin]:[TBHP] = 1:50:60. In such conditions, conversions were around 45% and 25%, respectively, in 2h. The lower activity of [VO(salen)] could be assigned to the complete decomposition of TBHP. When this experiment was repeated doubling the amount of TBHP, 64% conversion to epoxide was observed before deactivation (4h). Both systems turned out to be more stable in the epoxidation of trans-2-hexen-1-ol: using a molar ratio [V]:[alcohol]:[TBHP] = 1:50:66, 70% and 95% conversions were obtained in 5h in the presence of [VO(acac)₂] and [VO(salen)], respectively. Therefore, the inorganic systems Ia and IIa were prepared and tested in the epoxidation of the same alcohol, but now using a molar ratio [V]:[alcohol]:[TBHP] = 1:25:33. A lower proportion between alcohol/vanadium was employed since a decrease in catalytic activity, owing to diffusion problems arising from the encapsulation of the complexes, was expected. After 5h, a complete conversion of trans-2-hexen-1-ol to its epoxide was observed for system IIa; with system Ia, conversion was only 76%. Since catalysts based on [VO(salen)] appeared to be more active even when encapsulated, catalyst IIb was also prepared in order to determine whether a change in the characteristics of the matrix would affect the resulting catalytic activity. Thus, catalysts IIa and IIb were tested in the epoxidation of several allylic alcohols with different nucleophilic character of the double bond and steric demands (Table 2). The lowest initial turnover frequency was observed for the primary trisubstituted alcohol, probably due to its higher steric demand. The least nucleophilic secondary allylic alcohol (i.e. the less reactive) 1-octen-3-ol was epoxidized in almost the same rate as the primary disubstituted alcohol cis-2-hexen-1-ol. This unexpected result can also be ascribed to different steric demands associated with the diffusion of the substrate through the pore system. In spite of the different initial turnover rates observed for catalysts IIa and IIb with the same alcohol, the final conversions (after ~5h) were the same, as shown in Figure 2 for the epoxidation of trans-2-hexen-1-ol and 1-octen-3-ol. The higher initial turnover frequencies observed for catalyst IIb, whatever the alcohol tested, can be assigned to structural differences between the matrices, in particular to its larger pore diameter (Table 1, Figure 1). Since total consumption of TBHP was never observed with the encapsulated systems, the deactivation of the catalysts after ca. 4-5h under reaction can be tentatively ascribed to pore blockage.

Although no vanadium leaching was observed during the catalytic reactions, recycling experiments with catalysts IIb and trans-2-hexen-1-ol showed that some loss of vanadium took place at every Soxhlet washing (performed after each catalytic reaction): 0.9 wt.% vanadium leaching after the first washing; 0.3wt.% after the second and third washings, totalizing 1.5 wt.% after three reactions. In four successive runs, keeping the initial molar ratios, conversions decreased from 100% to 85%, 65% and 40% (in 5h). These results suggest that, besides pore blockage, a modification (or degradation) of the complex might take place during each reaction, with the modified species being insoluble in toluene.

Finally, the non optimized results described in this work are similar to those reported for polystyrene microencapsulated [VO(acac)₂],¹³ being a promising alternative to the immobilization of soluble vanadium complexes.

Conclusions

[VO(salen)] was successfully encapsulated in inorganic or hybrid matrices via the sol-gel method. The resulting systems are active in the epoxidation of allylic alcohols but the initial turnover frequency seems to depend on the characteristics of the pore system. Although the systems were not optimized, the catalyst based on the hybrid matrix could be used in at least 4 runs. The low total amount of vanadium leached cannot account for the observed decrease in catalytic activity in successive runs.

Acknowledgements

Financial support from FAPESP and a fellowship from PIBIC-CNPq (to R.B.P.) are gratefully acknowledged.

Received: November 26, 2003

Published on the web: July 6, 2004

FAPESP helped in meeting the publication costs of this article

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Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  15 Sept 2004
• Date of issue
  Aug 2004

History

• Received
  26 Nov 2003