MAGNESIUM OXIDE-SUPPORTED POLYTITAZANE COBALT(III) COMPLEX FOR CATALYTIC EPOXIDATION OF ALPHA-PINENE WITH MOLECULAR-OXYGEN

Magnesium oxide-supported polytitazane cobalt complex has been prepare d and found to be a very effective catalyst for the epoxidation of alp ha-pinene in the presence of an aldehyde as a reductant. XPS data show that the high valent cobalt(III) was stabilized by the mutidentate ni trogen ligand of polytitazane. The alpha-pinene oxide can be obtained in 96.0% yield with 96.6% selectivity at 25 degrees C under an atmosph eric pressure of molecular oxygen. Isobutyraldehyde is an effective re ductant and only 1.2 equivalent of isobutyraldehyde to alpha-pinene is needed to ensure high yield of alpha-pinene oxide. The catalyst is al so very stable and can be reused at least eight times without loss of its activity.