Three-Dimensional Hierarchical Hydrotalcite-Silica Sphere Composites as Catalysts for Baeyer-Villiger Oxidation Reactions Using Hydrogen Peroxide

The development of effective, environmentally friendly catalysts for the Baeyer-Villiger reaction is becoming increasingly important in applied catalysis. In this work, we synthesized a 3D composite consisting of silica spheres coated with Mg/Al hydrotalcite with much better textural properties than its 2D counterparts. In fact, the 3D solid outperformed a 2D-layered hydrotalcite as catalyst in the Baeyer-Villiger reaction of cyclic ketones with H2O2/benzonitrile as oxidant. The 3D catalyst provided excellent conversion and selectivity; it was also readily filtered off the reaction mixture. The proposed reaction mechanism, which involves adsorption of the reactants on the hydrotalcite surface, is consistent with the catalytic activity results.