Cu/Mg/Al hydrotalcite-like hydroxide catalysts for o-phenylphenol synthesis

•o-Phenylphenol synthesis using hydrotalcite-like catalyst precursors is reported.•The Cu content has a significant effect on dispersion of active centers.•The catalyst exhibited good activity attributed to well-dispersion of copper species.

Cu-Mg-Al layered double hydroxides with different amounts of Cu were prepared by the hydrothermal crystallization method. The samples were characterized by XRD and SEM, which confirmed the formation of layered double hydroxides phase. The hydrotalcite materials and their calcined counterparts are further characterized by FT-IR, thermogravimetric, N2 adsorption-desorption, CO2-TPD and temperature-programmed reduction with H2. The Cu/Mg/Al mixed oxide catalysts obtained via thermal decomposition of hydroxides precursor, were used for dehydrogenation of 2-(1-cyclohexenyl). The catalytic measurements conclude that the selectivity to ortho-phenylphenol (OPP) depends on the dispersion of cooper for these catalysts.

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