High surface area (127 m2/g) mesoporous tungsten oxide(WO3) hexagonal rods were synthesized by a gas template technique and characterized by X ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Raman spectroscopy and nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherm. Excellent catalytic performance for the cyclohexene-aromatic cross coupling reactions with over 99% conversion and 94% selectivity within 2 hours at 110oC under air was observed. When the ordered hexagonal channels of tungsten oxide were exchanged with Li+, Na+, K+ and Co2+, the surface areas of the materials were decreased along with decreased catalytic performance indicating the importance of the hexagonal channels to the catalytic performance. A radical based reaction mechanism was proposed based on the results of the reactive oxygen species scavenger test. Catalytic conversion of 55% with 92% selectivity was observed when the reaction was performed at room temperature under a visible light photoreactor demonstrating the photocatalytic activity of WO3. Photochromic properties of WO3 were observed when the material was illuminated with 514 nm laser.

Highly efficient photochromic mesoporous tungsten oxide hexagonal tunnels for catalytic coupling of alkenes

255th National Meeting (2018)

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