Microwave-assisted hydroarylation of styrenes catalysed by transition metal oxide nanoparticles supported on mesoporous aluminosilicates

•Supported nanoparticle systems for phenol hydroarylation with styrene.•Stable and active catalysts under microwave irradiation.•Protocol amenable to substituted phenols in a short time of reaction.•Highly recyclable catalysts (up to four uses).

The addition of phenols to styrene to form ortho and para-(1-phenylethyl) phenols was catalysed by a range of metal oxide nanoparticles supported on mesoporous aluminosilicates (M/Al-SBA-15 catalysts) under microwave irradiation. Moderate to excellent yields to products could be obtained at short times of reaction (typically 10 min). 0.5%Fe/Al-SBA-15 as readily available, environmentally friendly and cheap catalysts exhibited remarkable improvements in yield as compared to the majority of utilized catalysts. The heterogeneous catalyst can be reused at least three times without a significant loss in activity.

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