Polymer-anchored peroxo compounds of molybdenum and tungsten as efficient and versatile catalysts for mild oxidative bromination

Abstract A polymer supported peroxomolybdate(VI) compound of the type [MoO 2 (O 2 )(CN) 2 ]–PAN [PAN = poly(acrylonitrile)] ( PANMo ) was obtained by reacting H 2 MoO 4 with 30% H 2 O 2 and the macromolecular ligand, PAN at near neutral pH. The macrocomplex has been characterized by elemental analysis (CHN and EDX analysis), spectral (IR, UV–Vis and 13 C NMR, 95 Mo NMR), thermal (TGA-DTG) as well as SEM studies. The catalytic activity of PANMo and its previously reported tungsten containing analog PANW , in oxidative bromination of organic substrates has been explored. The supported complexes could serve as efficient heterogeneous catalysts for the oxidative bromination of a variety of structurally diverse aromatic compounds, with H 2 O 2 as terminal oxidant, to afford bromo organics in impressive yields under environmentally clean conditions. The catalysts afforded regeneration and could be reused for a minimum of six reaction cycles.