Selective oxidation of ethylbenzene to acetophenone over Cr(III) Schiff base complex intercalated into layered double hydroxide

A new heterogeneous catalyst, Cr(III) Schiff base‐containing layered double hydroxide, was synthesized using the intercalation method. The Cr(III) Schiff base complex derived from 2‐hydroxy‐1‐naphthaldehyde and 4‐aminobenzoic acid was intercalated into the layered double hydroxide. The synthesized materials were characterized using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry, energy‐dispersive X‐ray analysis, scanning electron microscopy, X‐ray diffraction, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area measurement, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, diffuse reflectance UV–visible spectroscopy and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. The catalytic activity was investigated for the oxidation of ethylbenzene with tert‐butylhydroperoxide as an oxidant under solvent‐free conditions as well as with lower chromium concentrations. In the oxidation reaction, ethylbenzene was oxidized to acetophenone and benzaldehyde. The catalyst was recycled ten times without significant loss of catalytic activity. Leaching studies performed with hot filtration experiments showed that the chromium catalyst was heterogeneous in nature and stable under the reaction conditions.