Porous Magnesium Oxide by Twin Polymerization: From Hybrid Materials to Catalysis

Abstract

AbstractTwin monomers [Mg(2‐OCH2‐cC6H4O)][L]0.8 (2, L=diglyme) and [Mg(2‐OCH2‐cC6H4O)][L]0.66 (3, L=tmeda) form by their thermal polymerization interpenetrating organic‐inorganic hybrid materials in a straightforward manner. Carbonization (Ar) followed by calcination gave porous MgO (2: surface area 200 m2 g−1, 3: 400 m2 g−1), which showed in catalytic studies towards Meerwein‐Ponndorf‐Verley reductions excellent yields and complete conversions for cyclohexanone and benzaldehyde. However, with crotonaldehyde a mixture of C4–C8 compounds was obtained. When MgO was exposed to air then primarily crotyl alcohol was formed. The range of applications could be easily extended by twin polymerization of 3 in presence of [Cu(O2CCH2O(CH2CH2O)2Me)2] (4) or [Ag(O2CCH2‐cC4H3S)(PPh3)] (5), resulting in the formation of nanoparticle‐decorated porous CuO@MgO or Ag@MgO materials, which showed high catalytic reactivity towards the reduction of methylene blue.