SiCN Nanofibers Supported Gold Catalyst for the Selective Oxidation of Cyclic Alkenes

A general synthetic procedure for mesostructured metal nanoparticles integrated SiCN supports with preferable morphology has been developed. The synthetic procedure consists of two steps including i) concerted block copolymerization, microphase separation, and cross-linking ii) pyrolysis at 1000°C under inert atmosphere. Hydroxyl terminated polyethylene and an inexpensive commercially available polymeric carbosilazane precursor were used as organic and inorganic ceramic precursor blocks, respectively. The linked hybrid block copolymer is structured using microphase separation in a non-polar solvent. The synthesis of metal nanoparticles supported SiCN catalysts with fibrous morphology was synthesized by the addition of aminopyridinato complexes during copolymerisation step. The synthesized Au@SiCN-Nanofibers catalysts were characterized by Thermo gravimetric analysis, transmission electron microscopy, and powder X-ray diffractometer techniques. The Au@SiCN is active in oxidation of higher alkenes in the presence of air/O2 as an oxidant. More interestingly, Au@SiCN is highly selective in the cyclicalkenes over linear alkenes. This selectivity accounts for the activation of molecular oxygen due to surface plasmon resonance effect of Au (111) plane of nanoparticles followed by the epoxidation cycloalkenes. Models of cyclicalkenes oxidation are conducted and analysed by using 1H NMR and GC-MS measurements.