Selective hydroxylation of benzene derivatives and alkanes with hydrogen peroxide catalysed by a manganese complex incorporated into mesoporous silica-alumina

Selective hydroxylation of benzene derivatives and alkanes to the corresponding phenol and alcohol derivatives with hydrogen peroxide was efficiently catalysed by a manganese tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine (tpa) complex ([(tpa)Mn^II]²⁺) incorporated into mesoporous silica-alumina with highly acidic surfaces in contrast to the reactions in a homogeneous solution where [(tpa)Mn^II]²⁺ was converted catalytically to a much less active bis(μ-oxo)dimanganese(iii,iv) complex.