Molecules 2010, 15(2), 747-765; doi:10.3390/molecules15020747
Article

Catalytic Performance of Ceria Nanorods in Liquid-Phase Oxidations of Hydrocarbons with tert-Butyl Hydroperoxide

Andreia G. Macedo 1,2 email, Sílvia E. M. Fernandes 2 , Anabela A. Valente 2 email, Rute. A. S. Ferreira 1 , Luís D. Carlos 1  and João Rocha 2,* email
1 Department of Physics, CICECO, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal 2 Department of Chemistry, CICECO, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
* Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Received: 9 December 2009; in revised form: 28 January 2010 / Accepted: 29 January 2010 / Published: 2 February 2010
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nano-catalysts and Nano-technologies for Green Organic Synthesis)
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Abstract: The CeO2 nanorods (CeNR) promote the oxidation of ethylbenzene (PhEt) and cyclohexene with t-BuOOH, at temperatures as low as 55 ºC. For both substrates the saturated C-H bonds are preferentially activated over the unsaturated ones. The catalyst seems fairly stable towards leaching phenomena. The liquid-phase oxidation catalysis may be associated with the Ce3+/Ce4+ inter-conversion in the one-electron redox processes mediating the formation of tert-butyl-(per)oxy radicals. CeNR is very effective in H2O2 disproportionation. Pre-treatment of CeNR with H2O2 or t-BuOOH prior to the catalytic reaction enhances the reaction rate of PhEt with t-BuOOH in comparison to CeNR. Textural characterization and spectroscopic studies suggest that catalytic activation is associated to defect sites.
Keywords: cerium oxide; nanorods; catalysis; oxidation; liquid phase; free radical mechanism

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MDPI and ACS Style

Macedo, A.G.; Fernandes, S.E.M.; Valente, A.A.; Ferreira, R.A.S.; Carlos, L.D.; Rocha, J. Catalytic Performance of Ceria Nanorods in Liquid-Phase Oxidations of Hydrocarbons with tert-Butyl Hydroperoxide. Molecules 2010, 15, 747-765.

AMA Style

Macedo AG, Fernandes SEM, Valente AA, Ferreira RAS, Carlos LD, Rocha J. Catalytic Performance of Ceria Nanorods in Liquid-Phase Oxidations of Hydrocarbons with tert-Butyl Hydroperoxide. Molecules. 2010; 15(2):747-765.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Macedo, Andreia G.; Fernandes, Sílvia E. M.; Valente, Anabela A.; Ferreira, Rute. A. S.; Carlos, Luís D.; Rocha, João. 2010. "Catalytic Performance of Ceria Nanorods in Liquid-Phase Oxidations of Hydrocarbons with tert-Butyl Hydroperoxide." Molecules 15, no. 2: 747-765.

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