Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles Inside Carbon Nanoreactors for Selective Allylic Oxidation of Cyclohexene

The confinement of cerium oxide (CeO₂) nanoparticles within hollow carbon nanostructures has been achieved and harnessed to control the oxidation of cyclohexene. Graphitized carbon nanofibers (GNF) have been used as the nanoscale tubular host and filled by sublimation of the Ce(tmhd)₄ complex (where tmhd = tetrakis(2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-3,5-heptanedionato)) into the internal cavity, followed by a subsequent thermal decomposition to yield the hybrid nanostructure CeO₂@GNF, where nanoparticles are preferentially immobilized at the internal graphitic step-edges of the GNF. Control over the size of the CeO₂ nanoparticles has been demonstrated within the range of about 4-9 nm by varying the mass ratio of the Ce(tmhd)₄ precursor to GNF during the synthesis. CeO₂@GNF was effective in promoting the allylic oxidation of cyclohexene in high yield with time-dependent control of product selectivity at a comparatively low loading of CeO₂ of 0.13 mol %. Unlike many of the reports to date where ceria catalyzes such organic transformations, we found the encapsulated CeO₂ to play the key role of radical initiator due to the presence of Ce³⁺ included in the structure, with the nanotube acting as both a host, preserving the high performance of the CeO₂ nanoparticles anchored at the GNF step-edges over multiple uses, and an electron reservoir, maintaining the balance of Ce³⁺ and Ce⁴⁺ centers. Spatial confinement effects ensure excellent stability and recyclability of CeO₂@GNF nanoreactors.