Lewis-type catalytic activity of direct incorporated Zr- and Sn-SBA-16 catalysts

Metal incorporation into nanoporous materials could give Lewis acid sites through the framework substitution of silica matrix, which are supposed to be in tetrahedral substitution of silica. In this work, Zr- and Sn-incorporated SBA-16 were directly synthesized by the microwave synthesis method. These microwave synthesized Zr- and Sn-incorporated mesoporous silica materials were applied in activation of ketones by Lewis acid sites to catalyze Meerwein-Ponndorf-Verly reduction of cyclohexanone and Baeyer-Villiger oxidation of adamantanone, respectively. Optimum incorporated Zr- and Sn-species gave almost 100% selectivity with high activity onto corresponding alcohol and lactone, respectively.