Green reactions by metallosilicate catalysts

Abstract

Metallosilicates, represented by TS-1 titanosilicate, have brought revolutionary green upgrades to the production of bulk chemicals by fabricating efficient, selective oxidation catalytic systems since the 1980s. Restrictions derived from the medium-pore structure of TS-1 titanosilicate have stimulated the development of novel titanosilicates beyond TS-1 and corresponding greener catalytic systems with enhanced catalytic performance. In addition, metallosilicates have found novel applications in the conversion of low-carbon resources with metals in framework T sites serving as active centers or promoters of precious metal active species. Herein, the recent advances in metallosilicates are reviewed for the construction of greener reaction systems, including the epoxidation of propylene, ammoximation of cyclohexanone, and hydroxylation of phenol, as well as novel applications in propane dehydrogenation and methane-to-methanol reactions. Future research directions are discussed, focusing on the industrialization of novel titanosilicate and the in-depth understanding of active sites and reaction mechanisms.