Olefin epoxidation catalyzed by Schiff base molybdenum (VI) complexes immobilized onto zirconium poly (styrene-phenylvinylphosphonate)-phosphate

Schiff base molybdenum (VI) complexes were immobilized onto a novel polymer–inorganic hybrid support-zirconium poly (styrene-phenylvinylphosphonate)-phosphate (ZPS-PVPA). The immobilized catalysts were well characterized by IR, BET, XPS, SEM and TEM. Compared with other heterogeneous catalysts known from the relative literatures, the as-prepared heterogeneous catalysts showed comparable or even higher conversion and chemical selectivity, which was mainly attributed to the special structure and composition of ZPS-PVPA. Moreover, the supported catalysts were easily recovered by simple filtration and could be reused at least ten times with little loss of activity.