Synthesis of polymer-silica hybrid-supported catalysts for solvent-free oxidation of ethylbenzene with TBHP

Polymer-silica hybrid support was synthesized, and Cu (II), Co (II), Mn (II), and Ni (II) metals were loaded over hybrid support by incipient impregnation method. Oxidation of ethylbenzene was performed for catalytic evaluation of catalysts at different reaction conditions, that is, the mole ratio of ethylbenzene to TBHP and reaction temperature. The main reaction product was acetophenone along with benzaldehyde as the minor product. The highest ethylbenzene conversion (96.5%) was attained at a 1:3 mole ratio of ethylbenzene to TBHP and temperature at 100 degrees C. Activation energy and reusability of the catalysts were also determined, and results showed that they can be easily reused three times without much loss in their structural and catalytic properties.