Photocatalytic oxidation of cyclohexene on titanium(IV) oxide

Photocatalytic oxidation of cyclohexene was carried out over a series of titanium(IV) oxide catalysts. These species acting together with molecular oxygen significantly differed in their surface and structural properties. Attention was paid to elimination of the total decomposition of the alkene molecules to water and carbon dioxide and to favour formation of reaction intermediates, comprising epoxide units. Experiments were performed in liquid phase at atmospheric pressure, room temperature and under UV illumination. A quartz reactor was used and the reaction mixture was agitated by oxygen. Significant variations in the reaction selectivity were detected as a function of catalyst structural properties.