Comparison on Catalytic Performance of 1,10-Phenanthroline Cu(II) Complexes Encapsulated in Zeolite-Y and Hierarchical Zeolite-Y

1,10-phenanthroline Cu (II) complexes (CuPhen) were successfully encapsulated in the cavities of conventional zeolite-Y and hierarchical zeolite-Y hosts obtained via post-treatment by the flexible ligand method. The physicochemical properties of the prepared hybrids were characterized by X-ray diffraction, TEM, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy and N-2 adsorption-desorption. A comparative study on the catalytic performances of the Cu complexes encapsulated in the different zeolite-Y hosts was carried out with different substrates. The results show that the hierarchical zeolite-Y exhibites superior host performance to the conventional zeolite-Y, and Cu complexes encapsulated in hierarchical zeolite-Y has higher catalytic activities in various cycloalkane oxidation reactions than those in the conventional zeolite-Y using H2O2 as the oxidant. In addition, Cu complexes encapsulated in the hierarchical zeolite-Y exhibites the same stability and reusability as those in the conventional zeolite-Y.