Ga‐Modified MCM‐41 Catalyzed Selective Isomerization of α ‐Pinene Oxide to Campholenic Aldehyde

ABSTRACT

The selective isomerization of renewable α ‐pinene oxide (APO) into value‐added chemicals remains challenging due to competing reaction pathways and limited catalytic control. Herein, we report the development of a gallium(III)‐functionalized mesoporous silica catalyst (Ga‐MCM‐41) for the selective transformation of APO into campholenic aldehyde. The catalyst was synthesized via a surfactant‐templated sol–gel approach and comprehensively characterized. HR‐TEM showed the presence of well‐ordered hexagonal mesoporous channels, while XPS confirmed the incorporation of Ga ³⁺ species into the silica framework. The catalyst exhibited a high surface area of 970 m ² g ⁻¹ and an acidity of 0.7 mmol g ⁻¹ . Under optimized reaction conditions, Ga‐MCM‐41 achieved >99% conversion of APO with 81% selectivity toward campholenic aldehyde. In addition, the catalyst demonstrated excellent recyclability over four consecutive cycles, with minimal loss of activity or selectivity.