User-friendly synthesis of highly selective and recyclable mesoporous titanium-silicate catalysts for the clean production of substituted p-benzoquinones

Mesoporous titanium-silicates have been prepared following the evaporation-induced self-assembly (EISA) methodology and characterized by elemental analysis, XRD, N2 adsorption, SEM, DRS UV–Vis and Raman techniques. The use of acetylacetone during synthesis allowed the formation of highly dispersed dimeric and/or small oligomeric Ti species, within the mesostructured silica network, to be realized. The materials catalyse oxidation of alkylsubstituted phenols to corresponding p-benzoquinones with 100% selectivity using the green oxidant – 30% aqueous hydrogen peroxide. The titanium-silicates prepared by the convenient and versatile EISA-based procedure reveal the true heterogeneous nature of the catalysis and do not suffer from titanium leaching. They show advantages over other types of mesoporous Ti,Si-catalysts, such as TiO2–SiO2 mixed oxides and grafted Ti/SiO2, in terms of the catalyst stability and reusability.