Peroxidation of benzaldehyde catalyzed by cobalt(II)‐chelated copolymer

A cobalt(II)‐chelated copolymer was prepared through copolymerization of styrene, acrylonitrile (AN), and divinyl benzene with glycidyl methacrylate (GMA)‐iminodiacetic acid (IDA) chelating monomers. Based on the experimental results of FTIR and EA, iminodiacetic acid was grafted on to the side chain of copolymer support. IDA contained in these copolymers was 22.67 wt%. BET was employed to measure the 0.7136 m2/g surface area, which provided the reaction sites for the reactants and active groups of the polymeric support. Additionally, the peroxidation of benzaldhyde with cobalt(II)‐chelated copolymer was investigated. After 3 h, the perbenzoic acid yield increased to 82%. As well, the high yield and perbenzoic acid selectivity were 68.9% and 69%, respectively. More cobalt(II)‐chelated copolymer used to catalyse peroxidation of benzaldehyde, the reaction rate was higher but the selectivity was decreased slightly in high conversion. Lower reaction temperature could moderate the characteristics of peroxidation for high conversion combined with low selectivity of perbenzoic acid. The perbenzoic acid content would decrease slightly owing to the presence of highly hydrophilic cobalt(II)‐chelated copolymer, prepared when the oxidation reaction reached high conversion. Furthermore, the perbenzoic acid product was stable and not decomposed by this cobalt(II)‐chelated copolymer. A moderate amount of water had a co‐activing effect on the cobalt(II)‐chelated copolymer.