Co-N-C supported on SiO2: A facile, efficient catalyst for aerobic oxidation of amines to imines

Abstract

We developed a novel, facile preparation method of Co-N-C/SiO2, which was the pyrolysis of silicone gel containing metal ion and triethanolamine (TEA) prepared by sol-gel process. N2 adsorption-desorption characterization displayed the sample had high specific surface area and pore volume (220.9 m2 g-1, 0.67 mL g-1). The active Co appeared to be small particles with size of about 5 nm and was well dispersed on SiO2. And the highly dispersed cobalt and nitrogen-doped carbon in Co-N-C/SiO2 served as active phase for the oxidation of amines to imines, thus Co-N-C/SiO2 could efficiently catalyze the oxidation of amines to imines in solvent-free, air atmospheric conditions, avoiding the use of large excesses of additives, specialized oxidant and solvent.