Ag–Cu–BTC prepared by postsynthetic exchange as effective catalyst for selective oxidation of toluene to benzaldehyde

•Cu–BTC exhibits highly selective catalysis in toluene oxidizing to benzaldehyde.•Ag–Cu–BTC was prepared successfully by PSE method.•Ag–Cu–BTC can keep the highly selective catalysis of Cu–BTC in toluene oxidation.•The introduction of Ag to Cu–BTC promotes toluene conversion effectively.

A mixed-node MOF catalyst Ag–Cu–BTC was prepared by postsynthetic exchange (PSE) method. It is believed that PSE method can realize isomorphous replacement of Ag ion to framework Cu ion in Cu–BTC successfully. The catalytic performance of Ag–Cu–BTC was investigated via selective oxidation of toluene to benzaldehyde by molecular oxygen in the absence of solvent and initiator. This catalyst exhibits good catalytic performance: on the premise of keeping highly selective catalysis of Cu–BTC for toluene oxidizing to benzaldehyde, the introduction of Ag (Ag content is 2.76 wt.%) can promote toluene conversion from 6.5% to 12.7%.

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