Zeolite-Y entrapped Ru(III) and Fe(III) complexes as heterogeneous catalysts for catalytic oxidation of cyclohexane reaction

Catalysis is probably one of the greatest contributions of chemistry to both economic growth and environmental protection. Herein we report the catalytic behavior of zeolite-Y entrapped Ru(III) and Fe(III) complexes with general formulae [M(VTCH)2·2H2O]+-Y and [M(VFCH)2·2H2O]+-Y [where, VTCH = vanillin thiophene-2-carboxylic hydrazone and VFCH = vanillin furoic-2-carboxylic hydrazone] over the oxidation of cyclohexane forming cyclohexanone and cyclohexanol. The samples were corroborated by various physico-chemical techniques. These zeolite-Y based complexes are stable and recyclable under current reaction conditions. Amongst them, [Ru(VTCH)2⋅2H2O]+-Y showed higher catalytic activity (41.1%) with cyclohexanone (84.6%) selectivity