Solvent Effects on Biphasic Photocatalytic Partial Oxidation of Cyclohexane

 

Scientific Achievement

The selective oxidation of cyclohexane to cyclohexanol and cyclohexanone was carried out using TiO2 deposited on functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes. Different solvents were used in continuous and biphasic systems to determine the degree of phase selectivity.

Significance and Impact

Control over selective partial oxidation is achieved through manipulation of the solvent environment surrounding the catalytic active sites.

Research Details

• A higher selectivity to the desired product selectivity to the desired products over CO2 was achieved in the presence of dichloromethane, followed by acetonitrile, and finally in the presence of water in single and biphasic systems. Modifying the solvent environment surrounding the catalyst influences competitive chemisorption of products and solvents, as well as surface radicals. Reaction selectivity can be tuned in biphasic systems by manipulating the hydrophilicity of the support.

 

 

Figure: Functionalized SMW nanotubes, where TiO2 have been deposited by sol gel method, located at the oil-water interface along with the mechanisms of the activation of photocatalytic activity for cyclohexane.