Investigation of 12-Tungstophosphoric Acid Supported on Ce0.5Zr0.5O2 Solid Solution

The nature of the Keggin ions of tungstophosphoric acid interacting with Ce_0.5Zr_0.5O₂ solid solution has been investigated. The vibrational study shows additional IR features at 1051 and 957 cm⁻¹ which are correlated to the primary Keggin anions interacting with Lewis sites involving Ce⁴⁺ and Zr⁴⁺ ions, and thus affecting the P–O and W=O_terminal bonds. The IR study indicates the formation of interfacial Ce⁴⁺–O–W and Zr⁴⁺–O–W bonds. The chemisorbed Keggin molecular layers on Ce_0.5Zr_0.5O₂ show activity towards conversion of acetophenone to styrene by Meerwein–Ponndorf–Verley reduction followed by dehydration. The activity is correlated with the relative intensities of IR peaks at 1051 and 957 cm⁻¹ of the perturbed Keggin molecular layers.