Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Catalytic Activity Of Ethylbenzene With Product Selectivity By Gold Nanoparticlessupported On Zinc Oxide, Afiq Anwar, Azman Ma'amor, H.N.M. Ekramul Mahmud, Wan Jefrey Basirun, Iskandar Abdullah

Turkish Journal of Chemistry

The oxidation of ethylbenzene (EB) using tert-butyl hydroperoxide as the oxidizing agent was carried out in presence of gold nanoparticles (3 nm) supported on zinc oxide in acetonitrile solution. A higher selectivity towards acetophenone (ACP) as the major product, and a moderate selectivity towards other products such as 1-phenylethanol (PE), benzaldehyde (BZL), and benzoic acid (BzA) were observed using the prepared Au/ZnO nanocatalysts at 100 °C for 24 h. It is suggested the reaction produces an intermediate product, which is dimethylethyl-1-phenylethyl peroxide through a radical mechanism. A small amount of benzaldehyde was observed because benzaldehyde went autoxidation to form benzoic …