Vapor phase reduction of cyclohexanone to cyclohexanol on Ce<inf>X</inf>Zr<inf>1-X</inf>O<inf>2</inf> solid solutions

Reduction of cyclohexanone to cyclohexanol using propane-2-ol as hydrogen donor has been carried out in vapor phase on CeXZr1-XO2 solid solutions synthesized by combustion at 302°C. The solid solutions around 0.4 mol% cerium content show better catalytic activity compared to pure ZrO2 and the selectivity to cyclohexanol is 98%. A moderate acid-base and good redox properties of CeXZr1-XO2 solid solutions are seen to be responsible for the catalytic activity. A possible mechanism of hydride transfer has been proposed with cerium ions as promoters.