Synthesis, characterization and catalytic performance of ordered mesoporous Sn–Al catalysts

A series of ordered mesoporous Sn–Al catalysts with high specific surface area, large pore volume and uniform pore size were successfully synthesized via facile one-pot evaporation induced self-assembly method. Different characterization techniques, such as XRD, N₂ adsorption–desorption, ICP, NH₃-TPD, TEM and UV-vis spectra were employed to investigate their physical chemical properties, and these catalysts were applied in the Baeyer–Villiger oxidation of cyclohexanone by molecular oxygen. The characteristic results showed that Sn–Al catalysts exhibited wormhole-like mesostructured and narrow pore-size distribution. The acidity of Sn–Al catalysts can be promoted by homogeneous incorporation of Sn species into the framework of Al₂O₃, which is beneficial to their catalytic performances in the Baeyer–Villiger oxidation of cyclohexanone by molecular oxygen. The Sn–Al catalyst when adding 7 % the weight percent of Sn in the catalyst shows higher yield of ε-caprolactone than other catalysts, and it exhibited excellent catalytic stability even after repeated reaction for five times.