Mesoporous Zirconium Oxophosphate: An Efficient Catalyst for the Synthesis of Cyclic Acetals and Cyclic Carbonates under Solvent‐Free Conditions

Abstract

Abstract Mesoporous zirconium oxophosphate (MZrP‐1) composed of porous interconnected network and high specific surface area has been synthesized by using Pluronic P123 as template under evaporation‐induced self‐assembly (EISA) method. The prepared mesoporous material has been characterized by small‐angle powder X‐ray diffraction, UHR‐TEM (Ultra‐high Resolution‐Transmission Electron Microscopy) image analysis, and N 2 adsorption‐desorption, FTIR (Fourier‐transform Infrared Spectroscopy) and FE‐SEM (Field Emission‐Scanning Electron Microscopy) analysis. Mesoporous MZrP‐1 catalyst exhibited excellent catalytic activity for the synthesis of cyclic acetals from glycerol and cyclic carbonates from epoxide as starting under solvent‐free green conditions. High surface area and abundant acid sites present at the surface of the mesoporous zirconium oxophosphate is responsible for high catalytic activity. The catalyst can be reusable for several reaction cycles without any significant loss in its catalytic activity.