Encapsulation of Microperoxidase‐8 into MIL‐101(Cr/Fe) Nanoparticles: A New Biocatalyst for the Epoxidation of Styrene

Abstract

AbstractA new biocatalyst MP8@MIL‐101(Cr/Fe) was prepared by immobilization of a heme octapeptide, Microperoxidase 8 (MP8) within a mixed metal MOF, MIL‐101(Cr/Fe). Both MIL‐101(Cr/Fe) and MP8@MIL‐101(Cr/Fe) were characterized by PXRD, FTIR spectroscopy and TGA. The catalytic activity of MP8@MIL‐101(Cr/Fe) for the oxidation of styrene by H2O2 and tBuOOH was then examined under various reaction conditions (nature of the co‐solvent and of the oxidant, concentration of the oxidant and of the substrate, time, pH) and compared to that of MP8 alone. Under the best conditions used, MP8@MIL‐101(Cr/Fe) was then shown to catalyze the oxidation of styrene about 3 times more efficiently than MP8 alone with approximately 50 % selectivity for styrene oxide.