Synfacts 2007(12): 1322-1322  
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-991385
Polymer-Supported Synthesis
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Au/TiO2-Catalyzed Aerobic Oxidation of Alcohols

Contributor(s): Yasuhiro Uozumi, Yoichi M. A. Yamada
N. Zheng, G. D. Stucky*
University of California, Santa Barbara, USA
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
22 November 2007 (online)

Significance

The aerobic oxidation of alcohols was performed with gold nanoparticles on TiO2 under solvent-free conditions. Thus, the reaction of benzyl alcohol was carried out with gold nanoparticles on TiO2 (131 ppm Au, ∅ = 6.3 nm) and K2CO3 (1 mol%) under O2 atmosphere (2 atm) to give benzaldehyde in 35% conversion with 55% selectivity (TOF = 534 h-1). The oxidation of aliphatic alcohols gave the corresponding esters in 35-59% conversion with >99% selectivity. The reaction of 2-propanol and 2-octanol afforded acetone and 2-octanone in 15% and 65% conversion with >99% selectivity, respectively.