Mesoporous hybrid organosilica for stabilizing Pd nanoparticles and aerobic alcohol oxidation through Pd hydride (Pd–H2) species

The hybrid periodic mesoporous organosilica (PMO) with APTES/DAR Schiff-based precursor 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) and 4,6-diacetylresorcinol (DAR) was synthesized in the presence of a structure-directing agent cetyltrimethylammonium bromide and tetraethoxysilane. Then, Pd (II) ions, as well as Pd nanoparticles, were incorporated inside the pore walls of the synthesized APTES/DAR-PMO. The PMO structure was characterized by HRTEM, FT-IR, TEM, FE-SEM, BET, SEM-EDX, low angle XRD, HADAF-mapping, TGA, and atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). Subsequently, the as-fabricated green heterogeneous nanocatalysts (Pd-NPs@APTES/DAR-PMO) was used as effective and sustainable catalysts for the aerobic oxidation of benzylic alcohols into their corresponding aldehydes in pure water A high Pd-NPs@APTES/DAR-PMO-catalyzed conversion level of the primary and secondary alcohols was demonstrated. Furthermore, the environmentally friendly catalyst showed outstanding stability, so that readily separated by centrifugation and reused for seven consecutive cyclic terms with good retention of high catalytic activities.