Ag-doped TiO2 enhanced photocatalytic oxidation of 1,2-cyclohexanediol

The superiority of silver-doped titania for photocatalytic oxidation (PCO) of organic compounds inspired us to investigate PCO of 1,2-cyclohexanediol. Ag/TiO2 was prepared, characterized (nanosize 1924 nm) and used for oxidation of 1,2-cyclohexanediol (1) in acetonitrile. The photolysate was analyzed using GC and GC/MS techniques. The PCO products are 2-hydroxylcyclohexanone (2), 1,2-cyclohexandione (3), 2-cyclohexenone(4), cyclohexanone (5), and adipic acid (6).The formation of electronhole pair at the surface of the catalyst followed by oxidation reactions was the suggested mechanism. Kinetic studies revealed first-order mechanism for PCO of 1 and rate constant (k)?=?-0.145 h1. Copyright (c) 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.