Efficient epoxidation over cyanocobalamine containing SBA-15 organic–inorganic nanohybrids

SBA-15 mesoporous silica is synthesized using triblock copolymer P123 surfactant and chemically modified by aminopropyl, thiol, ammonium and sulfonic acid functional groups. Functionalization is performed via post synthesize method using 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) or 3-mercatopropyl trimethoxysilane (MPTMS) precursor. The as synthesized mesoporous systems are applied for immobilization of cyanocobalamine. Functionalization effectively improves sorption properties of the supports, while different functional groups exert different effects. The organic–inorganic mesoporous materials are characterized via X-ray diffraction (XRD), nitrogen adsorption and desorption, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), FT-IR and inductively coupled plasma-optical emission (ICP). The newly synthesized systems exhibit high catalytic activity for heterogeneous epoxidation of cyclooctene in presence of hydrogen peroxide. Reaction conditions are optimized, effect of functional groups on performance of the catalysts is taken into consideration and reusability of the designed heterogeneous systems is studied. Systems with chemically modified supports are shown to be more efficient and stable catalysts however; chemical nature of functional groups plays a crucial role.