Comparative Evaluation of Nano and Bulk Fe‐Porphyrins in Aerobic Oxidation of Alkenes

Aerobic oxidation of olefins without any co‐reductant and high temperature was studies in the presence of nano and bulky Fe‐porphyrin in a comparative manner. Nano‐particles of Fe‐porphyrin were obtained via ultrasound irradiation. The results show higher catalytic efficiency of nano‐catalyst (turnover number of 1300) with respect to the bulk catalyst (turnover number of 600) in the oxidation of cyclohexene with molecular oxygen at room temperature. Application of molecular oxygen in the aerobic oxidations is kinetically hindered, but the problem can well be overcome by a pre‐activation step with a reducing agent such as light aldehydes or necessitate usually high temperature. This project introduces a simple method to prepare nano particle of Fe‐porphyrins for oxidation of olefins without any additive or reducing agent at room temperature.