Spectroscopic investigation and catalytic activity of copper(II) phthalocyanine encapsulated in zeolite Y

Copper phthalocyanine (CuPc) encapsulated in zeolite Y was prepared by in s itu ligand synthesis method by reacting Cu(II) exchanged NaY with 1,2-dicya nobenzene followed by Soxhlet extraction with several solvents. The encapsu lated copper phthalocyanine, CuPcY(e) was characterized by chemical and the rmal analyses, FT-LR, diffuse reflectance UV-Vis, and EPR spectroscopic tec hniques. The spectral studies unequivocally prove the encapsulation of CuPc in the alpha-cages of zeolite Y and suggest a distortion in the CuPc moiet y. The encapsulated materials were more active than neat phthalocyanine in the epoxidation of styrene with tertiary butylhydroperoxide. (C) 2000 Elsev ier Science B.V. All rights reserved.