Ti–phenyl nanoparticles encapsulated in mesoporous silica as active and selective catalyst for the oxidation of alkenes

•Ti–phenyl nanoparticles encapsulated in mesoporous silica.•Catalytic performance for the alkenes oxidations by aqueous H2O2.•Accessibility to the catalytic active sites by the porous SiO2.•The effect of phenyl-group on Ti in the styrene oxidation.

Ti–phenyl nanoparticles encapsulated in mesoporous silica (Ti–phenyl@SiO2) were synthesized and used as catalysts in the oxidation of styrene by aqueous H2O2. The Ti–phenyl@SiO2(2) with Si/Ti mol ratio of two exhibited the best catalytic performance for the oxidation of styrene with 92% conversion and 99% selectivity towards benzaldehyde. This superior catalytic activity shown Ti–phenyl@SiO2 catalyst was attributed to the presence of phenyl-group and SiO2 on Ti and the ease in accessibility to the active sites by the porous SiO2.

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