Preparation of cobalt(ii) acetylacetonate covalently anchored onto magnetic mesoporous silica nanospheres as a catalyst for liquid-phase oxidation of cyclohexane

Abstract

A cobalt-based magnetic nanocatalyst was prepared by linking cobalt acetylacetonate with (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane functionalized magnetic mesoporous silica nanospheres. The material was characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and N₂ adsorption–desorption. The results showed that the sample had a mesoporous structure with a relatively high surface area and that cobalt acetylacetonate was covalently anchored on the magnetic mesoporous silica nanospheres. The catalyst was found to be highly efficient for the oxidation of cyclohexane with oxygen as the oxidant.