Sandwich type polyoxometalates encapsulated into the mesoporous material: synthesis, characterization and catalytic application in the selective oxidation of sulfides

The A-type sandwich polyoxometalates of [(HOSn(IV)OH)(3)(PW(9)O(34))(2)](12−) (P(2)W(18)Sn(3)) and [(OCe(IV)O)(3)(PW(9)O(34))(2)](12−) (P(2)W(18)Ce(3)) were immobilized for the first time into the porous metal–organic framework MIL-101(Cr). FT-IR, powder X-ray diffraction, SEM-EDX, ICP analysis, N(2) adsorption and thermogravimetric analysis collectively confirmed immobilization and good distribution of polyoxometalates into cages of MIL-101(Cr). The catalytic activities of the homogeneous P(2)W(18)Sn(3) and P(2)W(18)Ce(3) and the corresponding heterogeneous catalysts were examined in the oxidation of sulfides to sulfones with H(2)O(2) as the oxidant at room temperature. The effects of different dosages of polyoxometalates, type of solvent, reaction time, amount of catalyst and oxidant in this catalytic system were investigated. The new P(2)W(18)Sn(3)@MIL-101 and P(2)W(18)Ce(3)@MIL-101 nanocomposites exhibited good recyclability and reusability in at least five consecutive reaction cycles without significant loss of activity or selectivity.