Synthesis of Novel Catalytic Styrene Aerobic Oxidation Catalysts via Embedding Co and Ce

We successfully synthesized a bifunctional alkaline catalyst (Co@CTS-1), on the one hand, which demonstrates exceptional catalytic performance in the aerobic oxidation of alkenes, particularly in the epoxidation of styrene, in the absence of both an initiator and a co-reducing agent, achieving a conversion rate of 74.94%, a selectivity of 71.84% for styrene oxide; on the other hand, the catalyst maintained its high activity throughout a cyclic reaction run lasting up to 2500 min, demonstrating exceptional stability in the epoxidation of styrene. The Co@CTS-1 catalyst utilizes TS-1 as the carrier, and it is modified with cobalt and cerium elements. Through the embedding of cobalt elements within the TS-1 cage, the catalyst gains the ability to activate O₂, and by inserting cerium elements into the atomic positions of silicon, the conversion rate is further enhanced. This encapsulated structure stabilizes cobalt nanoparticles, overcoming the short lifespan issues caused by sintering and leaching in conventional supported catalysts. This work provides practical clues for the development and application of novel catalysts, and will inspire the advancement of olefin air epoxidation.