Design of a highly ordered mesoporous H3PW12O40/ZrO2–Si(Ph)Si hybrid catalyst for methyl levulinate synthesis

A highly ordered mesoporous ZrO2-based material functionalized by benzene-bridged organosilica groups and the Keggin type heteropolyacid, prepared in a single co-condensation–hydrothermal treatment step, exhibited much higher catalytic activity towards methyl levulinate synthesis compared to alkyl-free H3PW12O40/ZrO2.