A series of metal cation modified layered-double hydroxides (LDHs) and mixed oxides were prepared and used to be the selective oxidation of toluene with O₂. The results revealed that the modified LDHs exhibited much higher catalytic performance than their parent LDH and the modified mixed oxides. Moreover, the metal cations were also found to play important roles in the catalytic performance and stabilities of modified catalysts. Under the optimal reaction conditions, the highest toluene conversion reached 8.7% with 97.5% of the selectivity to benzyldehyde; moreover, the catalytic performance remained after nine catalytic runs. In addition, the reaction probably involved a free-radical mechanism.

A series of layered double hydroxides (LDHs) –hosted sulphonato-salen Cr(III) complexes were prepared and characterized by various physico-chemical measurements, such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscope (TEM), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and elemental analysis. Additionally, their catalytic performances were investigated in the selective oxidation of glycerol (GLY) using 3% H₂O₂ as an oxidant. It was found that all the LDH-hosted Cr(III) complexes exhibited significantly enhanced catalytic performance compared to the homogeneous Cr(III) complex. Additionally, it was worth mentioning that the metal composition of LDH plates played an important role in the catalytic performances of LDH-hosted Cr(III) complex catalysts. Under the optimal reaction conditions, the highest GLY conversion reached 85.5% with 59.3% of the selectivity to 1,3-dihydroxyacetone (DHA). In addition, the catalytic activity remained after being recycled five times.

A series of transition metal sulphonato-Schiff base complexes were intercalated into Mg–Al layered-double hydroxides (LDHs). The obtained catalysts were characterized by FTIR, XRD, N₂ sorption, SEM and elemental analysis, and then were used in the selective oxidation of glycerol (GLY) using 3% H₂O₂ as an oxidant. It was found that their catalytic performances were closely related to the loading of active complexes, the Schiff base ligands and the metal centers of the catalysts, as well as the reaction conditions. The optimal conversion of GLY was 85.0%, while the selectivity of 1,3-dihydroxyacetone (DHA) was 56.5%. Moreover, the catalysts could be reused at least 10 times.