Copper containing TUD-1: synthesis, characterization and catalytic behavior in liquid-phase oxidation of ethylbenzene

Three dimensional amorphous mesoporous material, TUD-1 with different Cu-loading were prepared by using triethanolamine (TEA) as cheap, small, bi-functional template which acts as a mesoporous directing agent as well as an anchoring agent for copper active sites on the mesoporous wall. The materials thus prepared have been characterized by X-ray diffraction, N-2 sorption, FT-IR, TEM, DR-UV-Vis and ICP-OES. The catalytic activities of the prepared material (CuTUD-1) were tested in liquid phase oxidation of ethylbenzene with tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) as an oxidant. Influence of various reaction parameters such as time, temperature, Si to Cu ratio, oxidant and solvent were studied. Isolated framework substituted Cu sites are active for ethylbenzene conversion (35.2%) with 67% selectivity towards acetophenone.