Solvent-free selective oxidation of primary alcohols-to-aldehydes and aldehydes-to-carboxylic acids by molecular oxygen over MgO-supported nano-gold catalyst

摘要

Magnesium oxide supported nano-gold catalyst (prepared by the homogeneous deposition precipitation technique) showed high activity/selectivity and excellent reusability in the oxidation of different primary alcohols and aldehydes to corresponding aldehydes and carboxylic acids, respectively, by molecular oxygen (under atmospheric pressure) in the absence of any solvent. Influence of the catalyst calcination temperature (400-900 °C), reaction temperature (50-120 °C) and use of different solvents (viz. toluene, p-xylene, DMF or DMSO) on the oxidation reaction has also been studied.