Molybdenum-Schiff Base Complex Immobilized on Magnetite Nanoparticles as a Reusable Epoxidation Catalyst

The surface of magnetite nanoparticles as nano-sized solid support was modified with a molybdenum-Schiff base complex to prepare an easily separable heterogeneous catalyst for the epoxidation of olefins. Characterization techniques such as Fourier transform infrared and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopies, X-ray diffraction, vibrating sample magnetometry, scanning, and transmission electron microscopies indicated the presence of molybdenum-Schiff base complex and a magnetite core in the catalyst. The magnetite nanoparticles supported Mo catalyst exhibited high catalytic activity and selectivity toward the epoxidation of olefins and was easily recovered from the reaction mixture by magnetic separation to be utilized for subsequent reactions. The catalyst showed reusability for three times without significant loss of activity.