Enhanced Catalytic Properties of Molybdenum Promoted Mesoporous Cobalt Oxide: Structure‐Surface‐Dependent Activity for Selective Synthesis of 2‐Substituted Benzimidazoles

Abstract

Abstract High‐valent molybdenum ions were substituted into the cobalt oxide lattice through a one step, sol‐gel method and investigated for selective synthesis of 2‐substituted benzimidazoles. Catalyst synthesis involves surfactant assisted soft templating inverse micelle method, which forms mesopores by interconnected intraparticle voids. Substitutional doping of Mo 6+ resulted in materials with modified structural, morphological, surface, and redox properties. The catalytic activity increased with Mo concentration until an optimum amount (3 % Mo incorporation). Modified material shows lattice expansion, increased surface oxygen vacancies, and high surface area, which are responsible for the higher catalytic activity in selective benzimidazole synthesis reaction. A strong correlation between surface properties of the catalyst and the product selectivity was observed and plausible mechanistic and kinetic data are proposed and collected, respectively.