Selective oxidation of cumene into 2-phenyl-2-propanol and acetophenone over activated carbon supported Co1.5PW12O40 material

This article reports the oxidation of cumene by H2O2 in the presence of CO2. It describes the role played by carbon dioxide on the course of the reaction. The reaction was catalyzed by unsupported Co1.5PW12O40 and supported on activated carbon. The prepared materials were characterized by ICP, IR, XRD and UV. Analysis of the reaction products by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry and gas chromatography showed that 2-phenyl-2-propanol and acetophenone were the main products of the reaction. Activated carbon significantly increases conversion by increasing Co1.5PW12O40 accessibility to cumene molecules. The improvement in the conversion and selectivities of 2-phenyl-2-propanol and acetophenone by the use of the oxidizing system H2O2/CO2 compared to the use of H2O2 alone or CO2 alone is due to the role of the percarbonate entity HCO4- formed by reaction between H2O2 and CO2. Oxidation by large amounts of H2O2 decreases the conversion by decreasing the solubility of cumene in the resulting aqueous medium. An increase in the reaction time resulting in a decrease in the concentration of H2O2 and leaving the effect of the predominant CO2 accentuates the cracking reactions.