Selective oxidation of toluene over layered structures of Bi2MoO6 and La2MoO6

The vapor phase catalytic aerial oxidation of toluene to benzaldehyde (B_zH) was carried out over La₂MoO₆ containing the same kind of layered structure as Bi₂MoO₆. The overall kinetic analysis indicated the oxidation of toluene to B_zH to be first order with a frequency factor of log 0.63 and activation energy (E_a) of 26.3 kJ mol^–1 and 34.0 kJ mol^–1, respectively, for Bi₂MoO₆ and La₂MoO₆ catalysts. A relation between the activity and activation energy of conduction (E) is shown.