Solvent-free liquid-phase selective catalytic oxidation of toluene to benzyl alcohol and benzaldehyde over CeO2–MnOx composite oxides

A novel CeO 2 –MnO x composite oxide was prepared by the improved sol–gel method. The synergistic catalysis of Mn 3+ /Mn 2+ and Ce 4+ /Ce 3+ was responsible for the good catalytic performance in the liquid phase solvent-free selective oxidation of toluene.