Post-synthetic modification of crystal-like periodic mesoporous phenylene-silica with ferrocenyl groups

Amination of crystal-like 1,4-phenylene-bridged periodic mesoporous organosilica (Ph-PMO) was achieved with about 35% conversion of phenylene groups. Ferrocenylimine groups were subsequently anchored onto this material by condensation of acetylferrocene with amino groups. Elemental analysis indicated that about 15% of amino groups in PMO-NH2 were derivatized, resulting in an iron loading of 0.21 mmol g−1. Evidence for the presence of ferrocenylimine groups in the derivatized material (PMO-Fc) was obtained from 13C cross-polarization (CP) magic-angle spinning (MAS) NMR and FT-IR spectroscopies. PMO-Fc was further characterized by 29Si MAS NMR spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), N2 adsorption–desorption, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Powder XRD and N2 adsorption–desorption data for PMO-NH2 and PMO-Fc indicated that the mesoporous structure and molecular-scale periodicity in PMO-NH2 were largely retained upon treatment with acetylferrocene. The material PMO-Fc was examined as a catalyst for the oxidation of styrene at 55 °C using hydroperoxides as oxidants. The reaction products were benzaldehyde (major) and styrene oxide (minor), with the aldehyde being formed in yields of 25–27% at 24 h. Recycling experiments indicated that the material was susceptible to leaching of catalytically active species into the liquid phase due to the pronounced water sensitivity of the azomethine linkage.