Highly selective and efficient oxidation of benzylic alcohols with sulfate radical over metal-organic frameworks

Abstract

phosphonate-based metal-organic frameworks known as STA-12(M) (M ¼ Mn, Fe, Co, Ni), show excellent catalytic activity towards oxidation of aromatic alcohols to aldehydes with Na2S2O4/TBHP (tert-Butyl hydroperoxide) mixture. The STA-12(Fe) exhibited higher oxidation activity than other MOFs used in this work. Aldehydes were produced selectively in high yields under mild conditions at desired times. Recyclability for fourteen runs, without any noticeable decline in the conversion and selectivity of the product, demonstrates the high recoverability and the remarkable stability of title metal-organic frameworks. Selective radical quenching studies were performed and sulfate radicals was found to be the major oxidizing species in this catalytic system.