Polyoxometalate-based supramolecular porous frameworks with dual-active centers towards highly efficient synthesis of functionalized p-benzoquinones?

Green Chemistry Pub Date: 2021-09-30 DOI: 10.1039/D1GC03061B

Abstract

Selective oxidation of substituted phenols is an ideal method for preparing functionalized p-benzoquinones (p-BQs), which serve as versatile raw materials for the synthesis of a variety of biologically active compounds. Herein, two new polyoxometalate-based supramolecular porous frameworks, K3(H2O)4[Cu(tza)2(H2O)]2[Cu(Htza)2(H2O)2][BW12O40]·6H2O (1) and H3K3(H2O)3[Cu(Htza)2(H2O)]3[SiW12O44]·14H2O (2) (Htza = tetrazol-1-ylacetic acid), were synthesized and structurally characterized by elemental analysis, infrared spectroscopy, thermal analysis, UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, and single-crystal X-ray and powder diffraction. The single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis indicates that both compounds possess unique petal-like twelve-nucleated Cu-organic units composed of triangular and hexagonal metal–organic loops. In 1, the Cu-organic units are isolated and [BW12O40]5? polyoxoanions are sandwiched between staggered adjacent triangular channels in the structure. However in 2, the Cu-organic units extend into a two-dimensional layered structure, and the [SiW12O44]12? polyoxoanions occupy the larger hexagonal channels in the stacked structure. Both compounds as heterogeneous catalysts can catalyze the selective oxidation of substituted phenols to high value-added p-BQs under mild conditions (60 °C) with TBHP as the oxidant, particularly in the oxidation of 2,3,6-trimethylphenol to 2,3,5-trimethyl-p-benzoquinone (TMBQ, key intermediate in vitamin E production). Within 8–10 min, the yield of TMBQ is close to 100%, and oxidant utilization efficiency is up to 94.2% for 1 and 90.9% for 2. The turnover frequencies of 1 and 2 are as high as 5000 and 4000 h?1, respectively. No obvious decrease in the yield of TMBQ was observed after five cycles, which indicates the excellent sustainability of both compounds. Our study of the catalytic mechanism suggests that there is a two-site synergetic effect: (i) the copper ion acts as the catalytic site of the homolytic radical pathway; and (ii) the polyoxoanion acts as the active center of the heterolytic oxygen atom transfer pathway.

Graphical abstract: Polyoxometalate-based supramolecular porous frameworks with dual-active centers towards highly efficient synthesis of functionalized p-benzoquinones
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