OXIDATION OF CYCLOHEXANE USING FEPCY-ZEOZYMES OCCLUDED IN POLYDIMETHYLSILOXANE MEMBRANES

Cyclohexane is selectively oxidized by tertiary-butyl hydroperoxide at room temperature using a catalyst consisting of iron phthalocyanine i n zeolite Y (FePcY) occluded in a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) membrane . Different experimental setups are used to study the effect of the me mbrane incorporation on the catalytic performance. Embedding this cata lyst in PDMS results in a new system with considerably higher activity which makes the controlled addition of peroxide redundant. Separating the two immiscible reactant phases, the membrane eliminates the need for a solvent. In addition, it actively controls the concentration of the reactants near the active sites by fine-tuning their respective so rptions. The result is a substrate/oxidant ratio which is beneficial f or the reaction. Evidence for this active role is established in the a nalysis of the composition of the membrane phase after reaction. (C) 1 996 Academic Press Inc.