Cyclohexene epoxidation with H2O2 in the vapor and liquid phases over a vanadium-based metal–organic framework

Abstract

A metal–organic framework, MIL-47(V) containing coordinatively saturated V^+IV sites linked together by terephthalic linkers, was prepared by a solvothermal method and evaluated as a catalyst in the epoxidation of cyclohexene. We have compared the catalytic activity in the condensed and gas phase oxidation of cyclohexene to discuss the effect of temperature and reaction phase in cyclohexene epoxidation over MIL-47(V). The catalysts were examined for the epoxidation of cyclohexene with H₂O₂ at 50, 65, 120, and 150 °C. We observed significant differences in product selectivity between liquid-phase and gas-phase operations and confirmed that the active sites are tightly incorporated into the MOF as node channels and thus resistant to leaching.