Epoxidation of Alkenes Catalyzed by the Nanocluster Polyoxomolybdate Supported on SBA-15

Polyoxometalates (POMs) are a particular class of transition-metal oxoanion nanosized clusters which exhibit a great structural diversity of shapes, sizes and nuclearities1. POMs have attracted great interest as homogenous catalysts for the oxidation of alkenes, aromatics and alcohols. The immobilization of soluble POMs onto surfaces is preferred since they can easily be separated from a reaction mixture and recovered2. Recently, mesoporous SBA-15 have deserved general attention as support of heterogeneous catalysts due to its high surface area, uniform and large pores, tunable pore size and high thermal stability3.