Synthesis, characterization, and unique catalytic performance of the mesoporous material Fe-TUD-1 in Friedel–Crafts benzylation of benzene

Iron (Fe)-containing mesoporous TUD-1 catalysts (denoted as Fe-TUD-1) with different Si/Fe ratios (100, 50, 20 and 10) were synthesized using triethanolamine as a template. They were characterized by XRD, elemental analysis, N2 ad/desorption measurements, HR-TEM, UV–vis, 29Si NMR, and 57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopies. Catalytic performance was tested in the Friedel–Crafts benzylation of benzene. Fe-TUD-1 showed excellent activity, with 100% conversion and 100% selectivity towards diphenylmethane, superior to other metal-containing TUD-1 (e.g. Ga, Sn, and Ti) or other Fe-containing mesoporous materials (e.g. Fe-MCM-41 and Fe-HMS).