Facile synthesis of POM@MOF embedded in SBA-15 as a steady catalyst for the hydroxylation of benzene

•MOF-199 encapsulated Keggin polyoxometalate catalyst was facilely confined in mesoporous SBA-15.•This material was exploited to act as a stable heterogeneous catalyst in a liquid hydroxylation of benzene.•Cycling experiments of the catalyst were carried out and demonstrated unprecedented stability.

We present here a new hybrid material (POM@MOF@SBA-15, PMS) in which metal organic framework (MOF) MOF-199 encapsulated Kegginpolyoxometalate (POM) catalyst (names as POM@MOF) was facilely confined in mesoporous SBA-15. This mesoporous SBA-15 confined MOF-199 with encapsulated Keggin POM material was exploited to act as a stable heterogeneous POMs-based catalyst in a liquid oxidative reaction medium. Cycling experiments of the PMS catalyst were carried out in the direct synthesis of phenol from benzene and demonstrated unprecedented stability of this novel type PMS catalyst.

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