Catalysis of autoxidation of 2,6-di-tert-butylphenol in water by metallophthalocyanine tetrasulfonates bound to polyelectrolyte supports

Abstract

2,6-and 2,10-Ionenes and soluble poly(vinylbenzyl)trimethylammonium chloride polyelectrolytes were synthesized and used as catalyst supports for cobalt-, iron- and copper-phthalocyanine tetrasulfonates on the autoxidation of 2,6-di-tert-butylphenol in water by molecular oxygen. Polyelectrolyte supported cobalt-phthalocyanine tetrasulfonate showed the highest activity in comparison with the supported analogous of iron- and copper-phthalocyanine tetrasulfonates. The supported metallophthalocyanine tetrasulfonates had better catalytic activities than the unsupported analogous for the reaction. The reaction yielded 3,3',5,5'-tetra-tert-butyl-4,4'-diphenoquinone as the only oxidation product of 2,6-di-tert-butylphenol. The extent of the reaction was affected by time, temperature, pH, the types and concentrations of supports and metallophthalocyanine tetrasulfonates.