Issue 6, 2019

Heterogeneous viologen catalysts for metal-free and selective oxidations

Abstract

Metal-free oxidation, a green chemistry process, has drawn significant attention from catalysis researchers. However, most oxidation processes are completed by homogeneous metal-free catalysts, whereas heterogeneous metal-free materials have been developed with limited successes. In this study, polymerized ionic networks (PINs) with N,N′-dialkyl-4,4′-bipyridinium units as heterogeneous viologen type of catalysts exhibited high efficiency in the oxidation of aromatic sulfides/alcohols to sulfoxides/aldehydes, respectively (conversion: >90%, selectivity: >95%). The catalytic performance of PINs originates from the electron-accepting ability of the viologen unit, which can reduce H2O2 into an active species. Especially, the synthesis of PIN catalysts is a one-step simple polymerization reaction between benzyl bromide and bipyridine in air. The metal-free heterogeneous feature, high selectivity, mild conditions (60 °C, 1 h), and the facile preparation of the catalyst make the current selective oxidation approach attractive.

Graphical abstract: Heterogeneous viologen catalysts for metal-free and selective oxidations

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
03 Dec 2018
Accepted
04 Feb 2019
First published
04 Feb 2019

Green Chem., 2019,21, 1455-1460

Author version available

Heterogeneous viologen catalysts for metal-free and selective oxidations

S. Hou, N. Chen, P. Zhang and S. Dai, Green Chem., 2019, 21, 1455 DOI: 10.1039/C8GC03772H

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