Highly active InOx/TUD-1 catalyst towards Baeyer–Villiger oxidation of cyclohexanone using molecular oxygen and benzaldehyde

•Molecular oxygen is activated by indium dispersed on TUD-1 surfaces.•Basic sites of catalysts are increasing with increasing indium loading.•It is highly active towards BVO of cyclohexanone using molecular oxygen and benzaldehyde.•Polar aprotic solvents benzonitrile, DCE and acetonitrile are highly efficient in achieving optimum performance.

InOx/TUD-1 is prepared by sol–gel method and characterized by different techniques. On the basis of different characterization results it is found that spongy porous InOx/TUD-1 (In/Si = 8/100) matrix contains small crystallite of indium oxide in + 3 oxidation state. InOx/TUD-1 (In/Si = 8/100) catalyst shows good catalytic results for Baeyer–Villiger oxidation of cyclic ketones using molecular oxygen and sacrificial reagent benzaldehyde. The cyclohexanone conversion was found 100% with ε-caprolactone selectivity 100% using polar aprotic solvents e.g. dichloroethane, acetonitrile and benzonitrile in the presence of molecular oxygen.

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide