Mechano-chemical versus co-precipitation for the preparation of Y-modified LDHs for cyclohexene oxidation and Claisen-Schmidt condensations

Abstract Y-modified LDHs with atomic Mg2+/(Al3++Y3+) of 3 and Al3+/Y3+ ratios of 0.5, 1 and 1.5 were prepared following two preparation methods, i.e. the co-precipitation and mechano-chemical one. The substitution of Al by Y in the brucite-type layer was less effective for the samples prepared by co-precipitation compared to those prepared via mechano-chemical route. In spite the fact yttrium has a larger ionic radius (0.9A) the structural characterizations of these solids confirmed that the layered structure incorporates part of it in the octahedral positions. Further, the reconstruction of the layered structure after an exposure to water for 1 hour was more effective for the solid prepared by co-precipitation. The yttrium modified LDHs showed better catalytic activities for cyclohexene oxidation to the corresponding epoxide than the un-modified LDH sample. Then, mixed oxides derived from yttrium-LDH showed very high conversions and selectivities for the synthesis of chalcone.