Palladium‐Supported Nanoceria: A Highly Efficient Catalyst for Solvent‐Free Selective Oxidation of Ethylbenzene to Acetophenone

Abstract The benzylic C−H oxidation of ethylbenzene, a toxic petroleum waste, to high value‐added acetophenone is a fundamental yet important chemical transformation. Herein, palladium nanoparticles were immobilized on a highly mesoporous CeO 2 surface for enhancing the catalytic activity. The Pd/CeO 2 nanocomposite was employed in the benzylic C−H oxidation of ethylbenzene under solvent‐free conditions and using tert‐butyl hydroperoxide as oxidant which displayed high conversion of 99.8% and a selectivity of 79% towards acetophenone. Moreover, the Pd/CeO 2 catalysts were highly stable and could be recycled up to the fifth catalytic cycle without remarkable loss in its catalytic activity.