Preparation and properties of highly dispersed copper oxide in a zeolite matrix

Highly dispersed CuO clusters inserted into a zeolite matrix were prepared by oxidative degradation of the (μ4-O)L4Cu4Cl6 tetranuclear complex (L isN,N-diethylnicotinamide) preadsorbed on a dehydrated NaX zeolite from a solution in anhydrous dichloromethane. The catalytic activity of the CuO/NaX catalyst thus obtained in the oxidation of CO is an order of magnitude higher than that of massive CuO.