Debenzylation of vanillic acid over sulfosuccinic acid functionalized mesoporous silica nanocomposites

• Sulfosuccinic acid functionalized ordered mesoporous silica was synthesized and characterized for the first time.
• Liquid phase debenzylation of vanillic acid showed very high selectivity of the product.
• Plausible reaction mechanism was explained.

Sulfosuccinic acid functionalized mesoporous silica (SBA/SSA) was synthesized and characterized for debenzylation of vanillic acid in liquid phase for the first time. The catalytic activity studies showed high activity (82%) and selectivity (96%) for the desired product vanillic acid over SBA/SSA compared to 74% selectivity over silica/SSA. Synergistic effects of acidic/basic groups responsible for higher activity and selectivity were explained with plausible mechanism.

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