Mesoporous Molybdenum-Tungsten Mixed Metal Oxide: A Solid Acid Catalyst for Green, Highly Efficient sp3-sp2 C-C Coupling Reactions.

A mesoporous molybdenum tungsten mixed metal oxide with high surface area (173 m2/g) was synthesized by using metal dissolution coupled with a surfactant assisted reverse micelle formation synthesis method. Comprehensive characterization of the mixed oxide was performed by using PXRD, Raman, BET, SEM, EDX, TEM, and XPS. Thus, the formation of α-Mo0.5W0.5O3 with a homogeneous distribution of Mo and W throughout the material was seen. Furthermore, multiple oxidation states of molybdenum (Mo6+ and Mo5+) and a single oxidation state of tungsten (W6+) were observed. The weak/moderate acidic sites present in the mixed metal oxide resulted in excellent catalytic properties toward the sp3-sp2 carbon-carbon coupling reactions. The coupling of benzyl alcohol and toluene was completed within 15 min at 110 °C with 99% yield.