Polyethylene glycol clicked Co(II) Schiff base and its catalytic activity for the oxidative dehydrogenation of secondary amines.

Copper catalyzed [3+2] cycloaddition "click method" provided an efficient and high yielding immobilization of cobalt(II) Schiff base to the azido-functionalized MeOPEG(5000); whereas the direct reaction between MeOPEG(5000) and Co(II) Schiff base did not produce any immobilization. The prepared catalyst was tested for the oxidative dehydrogenation of various secondary amines using TBHP as oxidant and could be easily recovered by precipitation with diethyl ether at the end of the reaction.