Fabrication of highly active Sn/W mixed transition-metal oxides as solid acid catalysts

Catalytically active Sn/W mixed transition-metal oxides were prepared by calcination of the corresponding Sn/W hydroxide precursors at different temperatures. The obtained mixed oxides were characterized by physicochemical and spectroscopic methods. With variation of the molar ratios of Sn/W, the prepared Sn/W mixed oxide catalysts had different reaction activities. Thus, the Sn/W-2-800 oxide acted as an effective heterogeneous catalyst for the Baeyer-Villiger oxidation of ketones and the Friedel-Crafts reaction. Many ketones, as well as benzyl alcohol and acetic anhydride, were transformed into the corresponding products with high conversion and selectivity. The catalysts can be easily separated from the reaction mixtures and can be reused for at least five cycles without significant loss of activity.