Deperoxidation of cyclohexyl hydroperoxide

The goal here was to find new solid catalysts for cyclohexyl hydroperoxide (chhp) decomposition in cyclohexanol and cyclohexanone. The requirement list had foreseen a study on silica-supported metals of groups 4 and 5 and the need for a heterogeneous catalyst without metal Bxiviation. 

We first studied group 4 metals (titanium, zirconium and hafnium) supported on a silica dehydroxylated especially at 700 °C (Table 3.8). Following the laboratory-developed strategy, surface-species have been well-characterized by classical techniques (IR, solid-state NMR gas evolvement, reactivity, etc.). Catalysis results show that titanium is the most active even if its activity is far less than that of homogeneous catalysts. In addition, an important amount of metal was lost by lixiviation even if this phenomenon seemed to stop after a certain time. 

We then studied group 5 metals, especially tantalum-for which the laboratory already had great experience. Because of the studied reaction, alkyl or hydride-type compounds such as those developed in the laboratory could not be employed. Consequently, we became interested in alkoxo-type derivatives, either synthesized by reaction of the grafted complex with an alcohol or obtained by direct synthesis starting from an alkoxy-tantalum compound grafted on silica. In all cases, resulting complexes have been characterized by surface organometallic chemistry techniques, especially EXAFS and solid-state NMR (ID and 2D with C-labeled compounds). Indeed various compounds bonded by one, two or three surface bonds have been prepared and characterized. 

Catalyst Ratio chhp catalyst Reaction time (h) Conversion (%) TON Initial TOF (h- ) 

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