Manganese porphyrin supported on activated carbon as a new catalyst for epoxidation of alkenes with hydrogen peroxide

The Manganese complex of meso-tetrakis (4-carboxyphenyl) porphyrin was immobilized onto the surface of functionalized activated carbon and used as a heterogeneous catalyst for the oxidation of different alkenes. The heterogenized catalyst has been fully characterized using Ultraviolet–visible (UV-Vis), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR), and atomic absorption spectroscopies as well as thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and nitrogen adsorption-desorption (BET method) analyses. The Catalytic activity of the catalyst was investigated in the epoxidation of alkenes with H2O2 as a green oxidant. The influence of different parameters including time of reaction, molar ratio of catalyst, imidazole, and amount of oxidant on the efficiency of the catalyst was investigated. Complete conversion of the indene, α-methyl styrene, and 4-methyl styrene was achieved after 4 h at room temperature.