Abstract:
A series of Cu salts of heteropoly acid (CuxH3-2xPW12O40) supported MCM-41 catalysts (CuxH3-2xPW12O40) MCM-41) was synthesized by wet impregnation method and thoroughly characterized by using various analytical techniques, viz., X-ray diffraction, UV-vis diffused reflectance spectroscopy (UV-vis DRS), nitrogen adsorption desorption, temperature-programmed reduction (TPR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). From XRD and FT-IR studies, we confirmed that the Keggin structure of heteropoly acid (HPA) is retained in Cu salt of HPA. Heck vinylation was performed to examine the catalytic properties of the catalysts. The 50 wt % CuxH3-2xPW12O40/MCM-41 showed remarkable catalytic performance of phenyl iodide (98% conversion) to cinnamic acid in aqueous medium compared with MCM-41 and other catalytic systems.