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, 1H NMR, 13C 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.