Specific Enhancement of Activity of Carbon-supported Single-site Co Catalyst in the Microwave-assisted Solvent-free Aerobic Oxidation

The structure–activity relationship of carbon-supported Co catalysts was investigated in solvent-free aerobic oxidation of ethylbenzene under microwave irradiation. A single-site Co species show specifically high catalytic activity under microwave irradiation compared to conventional heating, while the oxidation is not accelerated by microwave when Co nanoparticle catalysts are used.The single-site Co species show specifically high catalytic activity in the solvent-free aerobic oxidation under microwave irradiation compared to the conventional heating, while the oxidation is not accelerated by microwave when Co(salen) or Co nanoparticle catalysts are used.