In this work we report the α-pinene oxidative functionalization using mesoporous materials as a heterogeneous
catalyst modified with Cu and hydrogen peroxide as oxidant. The reaction conditions were optimized by performing an addition of
hydrogen peroxide at 0.5 h of reaction. Thus, the α-pinene conversion was closed to 23% being verbenone the major product.
Moreover, the stability of the catalyst to the leaching of the active species and the possibility of recycling were checked. The results
confirm that the Cu species are not leached during the reaction. Thus heterogeneous catalyst can be recovered and reused many
times without loss in catalytic activity and selectivity.
