Mesoporous Cr-MCM-41: An efficient catalyst for selective oxidation of cycloalkanes

Mesoporous Cr-MCM-41 (with different Si:Cr mole ratios) have been synthesized by using the self-assembly of cationic surfactant as structure directing agent. This material showed excellent activity in one-pot liquid phase selective oxidation of cyclohexane and cyclooctane to cyclohexanone and cyclooctanone, respectively, using dilute aqueous peroxide oxidants.