Studies on the Selective Two-Electron Photooxidation of Benzene to Phenol using Polyoxometalates, Water and Simulated Solar Radiation

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Abstract

The direct one-step oxidation of benzene to phenol with the vanadium substituted tungsten polyoxometalate NaH3PW11VO40 was investigated under various reaction conditions. Photochemical substrate transformations were followed both under continuous wave photolysis with cut-off filtered mercury lamp light and under simulated solar light conditions. For comparison, potential dark reactions were also studied in control experiments. It could be shown that benzene is very selectively photo-oxidized to phenol in the course of a near UV and visible-light driven reaction. This process is accompanied by a reduction of the NaH3PW11VO40 catalyst as indicated by a rapid color change from yellow to violet-blue. Different strategies for the re-oxidation of the reduced polyoxometalate photocatalyst have also been investigated in order to further increase the observed turnover numbers for substrate conversion.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)60-64
Number of pages5
JournalJournal of Molecular Catalysis A: Chemical
Volume347
Issue number1-2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 01 Aug 2011

Fields of science

  • 103 Physics, Astronomy
  • 104003 Inorganic chemistry
  • 204 Chemical Process Engineering
  • 104016 Photochemistry
  • 104021 Structural chemistry
  • 106032 Photobiology
  • 106002 Biochemistry
  • 210006 Nanotechnology
  • 107 Other Natural Sciences
  • 211908 Energy research
  • 301904 Cancer research
  • 301305 Medical chemistry
  • 105904 Environmental research

JKU Focus areas

  • Nano-, Bio- and Polymer-Systems: From Structure to Function
  • Engineering and Natural Sciences (in general)

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