Magnetic d‐penicillamine‐functionalized cellulose as a new heterogeneous support for cobalt(II) in green oxidation of ethylbenzene to acetophenone

A new efficient heterogeneous catalyst is introduced for the oxidation of ethylbenzene. The catalyst was obtained in three steps: functionalization of cellulose with d ‐penicillamine, deposition of Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles on cellulose–d ‐penicillamine and then anchoring of Co(II) to the magnetic cellulose–d ‐penicillamine. High yield and excellent selectivity were achieved for the oxidation of ethylbenzene to acetophenone in ethanol under reflux conditions using H₂O₂ as a green oxidant. Also, the recovered catalyst could be applied six times without a decrease in activity.