Synthesis and characterization of a new kind of immobilized Mn(salen) and catalytic epoxidation of styrene on the catalyst

A linear polystyrene-isopropenyl phosphonic acid (PS-IPPA) copolymer was newly synthesized by free radical reaction in solution with isopropenyl phosphonic acid (IPPA) and styrene. Zirconium poly(styrene-isopropenyl phosphonate)-phosphate acid (ZPS-IPPA) was also synthesized. The benzene rings of ZPS-IPPA were hydroxylated and then further reacted with Mn(salen)CI. Thus the heterogeneous catalyst, Mn(salen) axially immobilized onto ZPS-IPPA was synthesized. These substances were characterized by IR spectra, X-ray diffraction (XRD), SEM, TEM, NMR, thermo-gravimetric analysis, and AAS. The catalyst showed good activity to epoxidation of styrene, which is close to that of the corresponding homogeneous catalyst. Copyright (C) 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.