Cationic ruthenium(II) complexes supported on mesoporous silica as catalyst precursors in the selective oxidative cleavage of 1‐octene

The selective oxidative cleavage of 1‐octene to heptanal and heptanoic acid is reported. A range of model and silica‐immobilized ruthenium(II) systems were evaluated. The MCM‐41 and SBA‐15 immobilized systems were found to show superior activity when compared to their homogeneous counterparts and were found to exert control over the selective formation of aldehydes or carboxylic acids. This could be achieved by varying the reaction times with very high yields being achieved at relatively short reaction times and low metal concentrations. The immobilized catalysts were characterized using nitrogen sorption, powder X‐ray diffraction, transmission and scanning electron microscopies, solid‐state NMR spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis.