Liquid-phase oxidation of benzene and phenol on MCM-41 mesoporous molecular sieves modified with iron and cobalt compounds

Nanostructured (I) Fe₂O₃ and Co₃O₄ stabilized in the mesopores of an MCM-41 sieve and immobilized (II) FeCl₂, Fe(acac)₃, and FePc on the surface of an MCM-41 sieve functionalized with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (3-APTES) were synthesized and examined. The materials were characterized by elemental analysis, H₂ -TPR, X-ray diffraction analysis, IR and electronic absorption spectroscopy, as well as by low-temperature N₂ adsorption. The catalytic activity was evaluated in the reaction of liquid-phase oxidation of benzene and phenol with hydrogen peroxide. Catalysts I showed a low activity in benzene oxidation, whereas catalysts II were active in the oxidation of phenol.