Catalytic Epoxidation of Olfins with Graphene Oxide Supported Fe(III) Complex

Immobilization of metal complexes on solid supports is an efficient approach to remedy the drawbacks of homogeneous catalysis. In this study, an in situ strategy of synthesis and immobilization of a Fe(III) Complex complex onto graphene oxide (GO) support has been developed. The immobilized iron complex [Fe(III) (BAPTE)@GO] kept the two-dimensional sheetlike character of GO and was demonstrated to be highly effectivefor the epoxidation of Styrene. The present paper describes the preparation and characterization of Fe(III)complex immobilized onto graphene oxide. The structural and morphological characterization of the heterogeneous catalyst was carried out by different techniques such as Fourier transform infrared and diffuse reflectance UV‎–‎visible spectroscopies, X‎–‎ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, nitrogen adsorption–desorption, transmission electron microscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy. The catalytic activity of the heterogeneous catalyst was studied in the epoxidation of olfins using tert‎–‎butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) as an oxidant and it showed high selectivity and catalytic reactivity. The graphene‎–‎bound iron was successfully reused for several runs without significant loss of its catalytic activity.