An investigation into the Ti-grafting structure on MCM-41 and epoxidation catalysis

The structure of titanium species grafted on a purely siliceous MCM-41 and their catalysis in the epoxidation of cyclohexene with tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) were investigated. FT-IR, XANES and UV–vis were used for the examination of the Ti-grafted MCM-41. The results indicated that the titanium atoms are grafted on the wall surface of the MCM-41 by four-fold coordination. The four-fold coordinated titanium species are mainly grafted by two or one –O–Si–O– bridges on the MCM-41, resulting in so-called bipodal or monopodal titanium centres in partially polymerised states. The ratio of monopodal to bipodal titanium increases with the increase in Ti-content. These partially polymerised titanium species considered as catalytic active centres have high activity and selectivity in the epoxidation reaction. The used Ti-grafted MCM-41 samples were regenerated by heating in nitrogen or air atmosphere. The regeneration in nitrogen atmosphere gives samples with significantly higher catalytic activity than in air.