An EPR study of Ti3+ in titanosilicate molecular sieves, TS-1, TiMCM-41, ET
S-10 and ETS-4 is reported. Ti4+ is reduced to Ti3+ by dry hydrogen above 6
73 K. Ti ions in TS-I and TiMCM-41 are located in tetragonally elongated Td
and those of ETS-10 and ETS-4 in a tetragonally compressed O-h geometric p
ositions. Reduction at 873 K revealed the presence of two non-equivalent Ti
3+ sites in TS-1 and TiMCM-41. Ti4+ ions in a tetrahedral geometry are more
difficult to reduce than in an octahedral symmetry. The effects of cation
exchange and Pt impregnation, on the geometry and reducibility of titanium
in ETS-10, are also examined. Interaction of a tetrahedrally coordinated Ti
3+ with O-2 or H2O2 results in a diamagnetic titanium(IV) hydroperoxo speci
es. Under the same conditions, an octahedrally coordinated Ti3+ forms a par
amagnetic titanium(nr) superoxo species. The higher catalytic activity of T
S-1 and TiMCM-41 in selective oxidation reactions is probably a consequence
of the formation of the hydroperoxy species on their surface during the ca
talytic reaction. The presence of Pt in the vicinity of Ti enables the use
of H-2 and O-2 (instead of H2O2) to generate the active hydroperoxy site. T
he absence of formation of titanium hydroperoxy species in ETS-4 and ETS-10
is the cause of their inactivity in selective oxidation reactions. (C) 200
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