The highly selective catalytic oxidation of toluene with air to benzaldehyde and benzyl alcohol in the liquid phase has been studied with the use of iron tetraphenylporphyrin (Fe TPP) supported on chitosan (CTS), (Fe TPP/CTS). The rates of toluene conversion and selectivity (aldehyde + alcohol) were subject to the reaction temperature, air pressure, and amount of iron tetraphenylporphyrin. By the use of the Fe TPP/CTS, containing 2 mg of iron tetraphenylporphyrin as catalyst, toluene oxidation with air under the optimum conditions of 190 °C and 0.6 MPa produced benzaldehyde and benzyl alcohol at 90% selectivity and 5.4% conversion of toluene, the mole turnover of the catalyst was about 6 × 106, and it could be reused efficiently for one more time. It is suggested that the amine groups (–NH2) on the chitosan chain act as a key assistor to the catalysis of Fe TPP for toluene oxidation. Compared with the conventional method of synthesizing benzaldehyde and benzyl alcohol, the new method has the advantages of reduced environmental pollution, higher selectivity for the two main products, and easy recovery of the catalyst.Key words: chitosan-supported iron porphyrin, catalysis, toluene oxidation, benzaldehyde, benzyl alcohol.
