Indene epoxidation over immobilized methyltrioxorhenium on MCM-41 silica, fumed silica and aluminosilicate materials

The presented report focuses on the testing of heterogenized methyltrioxorhenium (MTO) in indene epoxidation. A range of mesoporous materials with different SiO2/Al2O3 ratios, namely aluminosilicates type Siral and MCM-41 silica and fumed silica, were used as supports for immobilization of MTO. The tested support materials and prepared catalytic systems exhibited high surface area, well-defined regular structure and narrow pore size distribution of mesopores and therefore represent good quality catalysts for various reactions. The immobilized MTO on various supports was tested for the preparation of 1,2-epoxyindane using two forms of hydrogen peroxide as oxidation agents, namely aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide and its anhydrous form, urea-hydrogen peroxide. The prepared catalysts were successfully used for the preparation of 1,2-epoxyindane with achieved 100 % selectivities to the desired product at high conversions of indene.