Photocatalytic oxygenation of hydrocarbons on titania/iron-porphyrin hybrid catalysts

The heterogeneous photocatalytic mono-oxygenation of cyclohexane, methylcyclohexane and n-heptane has been carried out using TiO2 and iron-porphyrins surface modified TiO2. The modified catalysts show an interesting new reactivity with respect to both TiO2 and the porphyrins used separately as photocatalysts in the heterogeneous and homogeneous phase, respectively. In particular, it is important to note that for the unmodified TiO2 the amount mono-oxygenated products obtained is higher when the modified oxide is used. This is clear when also the degree of complete oxidation to CO2, being much higher for the unmodified catalyst, is included in the calculation of the yields.