Vanadium phosphates on mesoporous supports: model catalysts for solid-state NMR studies of the selective oxidation of n-butane.

SBA-15 was utilized as mesoporous support for the dispersion of vanadium phosphate (VPO) compounds. Loading of SBA-15 with VPO compounds was found to be accompanied by decreasing (29)Si MAS NMR signals of Q(2) (Si(2Si,2OH)) and Q(3) (Si(3Si,1OH)) silicon species, which indicates coverage of the mesoporous support by the guest compounds. The (51)V MAS NNR spectra of the activated VPO/SBA-15 catalysts consist of patterns typical for the alpha(II)- and beta-phases of vanadyl orthophosphate.