Synthesis of Magnetic Fe₃O₄@polyethyleneimine.Mn(II) from Fe₃O₄, [3-(2,3-Epoxypropoxy)propyl]trimethoxysilane, Polyethyleneimine and Mn(II) Acetate as a Novel Silicon-Containing Polymeric Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Nanomaterial and Its Catalytic Investigation Towards the Oxidation of Cyclohexene, Ethyl Benzene and Toluene in the Presence of H₂O₂ as an Oxidant

The surfaces of Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles were modified with [3-(2,3 epoxypropoxy)propyl]trimethoxysilane and polyethylenimine (PEI) and then manganese acetate was loaded on Fe₃O₄@PEI and the resultant Fe₃O₄@PEI.Mn nanoparticles applied as a heterogeneous nanocatalyst. The prepared Fe₃O₄@PEI nanoparticles were characterized by FTIR, powder X-ray diffraction, TGA, VSM, SEM and TEM. The EDAX analysis was used to identify the elemental composition of the prepared Fe₃O₄@PEI.Mn nanoparticles. The catalytic activity and selectivity of the Fe₃O₄@PEI.Mn was examined in cyclohexene, ethyl benzene and toluene oxidation reaction with 30 % aqueous H₂O₂ as an oxidant. Furthermore, the effect of reaction parameters such as kinds of solvents,temperature, oxidant amount and catalyst reusability were investigated. Results show that the original properties of the nanoparticles were well preserved and also good activity and reusability were observed in the oxidation of cyclohexene, ethyl benzene and toluene. Moreover, this heterogeneous catalyst can be recovered with a magnetic field and reused for several times without noticeable loss of catalytic activity.