Triazine-based polymers as nanostructured supports for the liquid-phase oxidation of alcohols

A covalent triazine framework (CTF) was used as support for palladium nanoparticles (NPs) and Pd/CTF was applied as the catalyst in the selective oxidation of benzyl alcohol. N groups in the CTF appeared more efficient than those created on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) by NH3/high-temperature treatment in stabilizing Pd NPs against growth during the immobilization step. This assured a high metal dispersion, which led to a highly active and stable catalyst in the alcohol oxidation reaction. Indeed, Pd on the CTF was more stable in recycling than Pd on activated carbon (AC) and on nitrogen-doped CNTs, particularly avoiding leaching of Pd NPs. Moreover, Pd on the CTF was less sensitive than Pd on AC to the decrease of reactant concentration. This in turn led to a higher selectivity to benzaldehyde (98 %) with a considerable activity (turnover frequency 1453 h−1).