Facile synthesis of highly active Co(II) and Fe(II) phthalocyanine catalysts for aerobic oxidation of phenolic compounds

In this work, 2,3-dichlorophenoxy substituted cobalt and iron phthalocyanines have been synthesized and used as efficient catalysts for aerobic oxidation of nitrophenols. Co(II) and Fe(II) phthalocyanines have been characterized by IR, H-1 NMR, C-13 NMR, UV-vis, and mass spectroscopies. tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP), m-chloroperoxybenzoic acid, hydrogen peroxide, and air oxygen have been used as oxygen source. These catalysts offered the highest activity on 4-nitrophenol oxidation in 3 h. In order to achieve the best reaction conditions, oxidant ratio, temperature, and oxidant type have been investigated with different nitrophenols in 3 h.