New mesoporous titanium–phosphorus mixed oxides having bifunctional catalytic activity

New mesoporous titanium–phosphorus mixed oxides templated by non-ionic triblock copolymer Pluronic F127 under evaporation induced self-assembly (EISA) method and using unconventional phosphorus source trimethylphosphite have been reported. Powder XRD, TEM and N2 sorption studies are employed to characterize the mesophases. TPD-NH3 experiments suggested an increase in surface acidity with the increase in the molar ratio of Ti/P in these mesoporous mixed oxides from 1 to 2. Interestingly these mesoporous materials showed excellent bifunctional catalytic activity in acid catalyzed Friedel–Crafts benzylation of bulky aromatics and partial oxidation of styrene to benzaldehyde with dilute H2O2 oxidant under mild liquid phase conditions.