Solvent-free liquid-phase oxidation of toluene with molecular oxygen over spindle-shaped CeO2–MnO1.68@CeOHCO3

An effective approach for the production of high-value benzyl alcohol (BOL) and benzaldehyde (BAL) via solvent-free liquid-phase oxidation of toluene with O 2 over CeO 2 –MnO 1.68 @CeOHCO 3 catalysts has been established in this work. The catalyst was formed using the interfacial oxidation-reduction method with the CeOHCO 3 as the template. Compared with CeOHCO 3 , MnO 2 and CeO 2 , the catalytic performance of CeO 2 –MnO 1.68 @CeOHCO 3 was significantly improved in the oxidation of toluene, with the activity could be maintained over five consecutive reaction runs. The catalytic performance of the toluene oxidation has been improved due to the synergistic effect of the Mn and Ce species of the catalyst. Under optimum reaction conditions, 6.7 % toluene conversion was achieved with an excellent level of selectivity for the target products (69.7 % selectivity to BOL and BAL). This study may reveal a new approach to the preparation of high value-added aromatic alcohols and aldehydes through the liquid-phase catalytic oxidation of aromatic hydrocarbons in the solvent- and additive-free.