Synthesis, characterization, optical properties and catalytic activity of CuO/Al2O3 nanoparticles for the green epoxidation of olefins

CuO/Al2O3 nanoparticles were synthesized in the presence of PEG400 by deposition in alkaline environment. CuO/Al2O3 nanoparticles were characterized by SEM, X-ray diffraction, FT-IR, UV-Vis and PL emission spectra. CuO/Al2O3 nanoparticles catalyze the epoxidation of alpha-methylstyrene, styrene, cyclooctene, cyclohexene, trans-stilbene and norbornene using H2O2 as an oxidant in ethanol. Under optimized reaction conditions, 100 % conversion of alpha-methylstyrene has been achieved where selectivity of alpha-methylstyrene oxide was 92 %.