Copper(II) ions are inserted into brucite-like sheets in the Zn-Cu-Al ternary hydroxides via the precipitation route. The amount of octahedral Cu(II) sites in the Zn-Al(OH) interlayers depends on the copper loadings. The square-planar configuration (CuO) was observed in the high-copper content samples. The Cu-inserted zinc aluminum hydroxides have lamellar structure, modest surface area, and hexagonally uniform plate-like particles. All synthesized hydroxides were tested for the liquid-phase oxidation of styrene. The overall conversion of styrene obtained about 60–80 % and styrene oxide selectivity is about 70 %. The catalytic activity is correlated with the electronic configurations of copper(II) ions and reaction variables. The copper(II) ions in the brucite-like sheets proceeded through the oxidation of styrene following the metal-superpoxo pathway while the extra-lattice copper(II) ions underwent reaction with free radical route. The experimental results also indicated Cu-intercalated layered double hydroxide catalysts are more active than copper(II) oxide in the liquid-phase oxidation of styrene under the same conditions.

铜（II）离子通过沉淀途径插入Zn-Cu-Al三元氢氧化物的水镁石状片中。Zn-Al（OH）中间层中的八面体Cu（II）部位的数量取决于铜的负载量。在高铜含量的样品中观察到了正方形平面构型（CuO）。插入铜的氢氧化铝锌具有层状结构，适中的表面积和六角形均匀的板状颗粒。测试所有合成的氢氧化物的苯乙烯液相氧化。苯乙烯的总转化率约为60-80％，氧化苯乙烯的选择性约为70％。催化活性与铜（II）离子的电子构型和反应变量相关。水镁石状片中的铜（II）离子按照金属-超痘毒途径通过苯乙烯氧化，而晶格外的铜（II）离子则与自由基反应。实验结果还表明，在相同条件下，在苯乙烯的液相氧化中，Cu层状双氢氧化物催化剂比氧化铜（II）更具活性。