Synthesis and Characterization of Metal Salen Complexes Immobilized MCM-41 and their Catalytic Activity for Benzyl Alcohol Oxidation

Co(Ⅱ)-, Mn(Ⅲ)- and Cu(Ⅱ)- salen type complexes were immobilized over mesoporous MCM-41 through coordinating the metal atom to amino groups covalently attached to the MCM-41 functionalized 3-aminopropyl triethoxysilane (3-APTES). The XRD patterns shown that mesostructure of MCM-41 remains intact after various modifications, while spectral techniques shown the successful anchoring the neat complexes inside MCM-41. The catalytic activity results shown that Co-salophen/MCM-41 exhibited the highest catalytic performance in the water phase selective oxidation of benzyl alcohol.