Efficient aerobic oxidation of ethylbenzene accelerated by cu species in hydrotalcite

The simply prepared CuMgAl hydrotalcite (CuMgAl-LDH) has been developed as an efficient catalyst for the aerobic oxidation of ethylbenzene to acetophenone in the presence of N-Hydroxyphthalimide (NHPI). Various alkyl arenes could be tolerated under the selected reaction conditions. The kinetic study showed that the oxidation of ethylbenzene is a first-order reaction over CuMgAl-LDH. The mechanism study indicated that CuMgAl-LDH could accelerate not only the conversion of ethylbenzene, but also the transformation of the alcohol intermediate to ketone. The positive effect of surface basicity of the catalyst on the reaction has been observed in the aerobic oxidation of the ethylbenzene. [Display omitted] •CuMgAl-LDH can efficiently catalyze the aerobic oxidation of ethylbenzene in the presence of NHPI.•Various substrates can be tolerated under the CuMgAl-LDH/NHPI/O2 system.•The kinetic study showed that the oxidation of ethylbenzene is a first-order reaction over CuMgAl-LDH.•The mechanism for the oxidation over CuMgAl-LDH with NHPI was systematically studied.•The positive effect of surface basicity of the catalyst on the reaction has been observed.