Synthesis of AgWCNx Nanocomposites for the One-Step Conversion of Cyclohexene to Adipic Acid and Its Mechanistic Studies.

A novel catalyst composed of silver nanoparticles grafted on WCNx has been prepared by using a facile pH-adjusted method. The material reported in this study presents a non-mineral acid route for the synthesis of the industrially significant monomer adipic acid through the selective oxidation of cyclohexene. Ag has been stabilized in the hydrophobic matrix during the formation of the mesoporous silica material by using aniline as stabilizing agent. A cyclohexene conversion of 92.2 % with 96.2 % selectivity for adipic acid was observed with the AgWCNx -2 catalyst, therefore, the AgWCNx catalyst was found to be efficient for the direct conversion to adipic acid with respect to their monometallic counterparts. The energy profile diagrams for each reaction path by using the AgWCNx catalyst were studied along with their monometallic counterparts by using the Gaussian 09 package. The reported material can avoid the use of harmful phase-transfer catalysts (PTC) and/or chlorinated additives, which are two among other benefits of the reported work.