Oxidation of condensed cyclic hydrocarbons with H₂O₂ in the presence of modified MCM-41 and SBA-15 mesoporous catalysts

Selective oxidation of condensed cyclic aromatics (naphthalene, tetralin and decalin) by hydrogen peroxide was performed in the presence of Ti, Fe or Cr containing MCM-41 and SBA-15 mesoporous catalysts. Using ultrasonic equipment, both in protic (methanol) and aprotic (acetonitrile) solvent, formation of naphthols could be detected in the oxidation of naphthalene. In the reaction of tetralin, the formation of 1-tetralone (an industrially important material) is higher than 30% over Cr-MCM-41 catalyst.