Solvent-free aerobic oxidation of ethylbenzene over Mn-containing silylated MgAl layered double hydroxides

A novel method for the preparation of Mn-containing silylated layered double hydroxides (LDHs) is presented. The method involves functionalizing the calcined MgAl LDH (LDO) with dimethoxydiphenylsilane (DDS), and then treating it in the aqueous solution of KMnO4 under Ar. The prepared Mn-containing silylated MgAl LDH catalysts have higher Mn amount and more accessible Mn sites than the corresponding Mn-containing MgAl LDH catalysts, and exhibited much higher catalytic activity in the oxidation of ethylbenzene with O2 in the absence of organic solvents than the latter. In addition, the prepared Mn-containing silylated MgAl LDH catalyst was highly stable and reusable.