Oxygen-Mediated Coupling of Alcohols over Nanoporous Gold Catalysts at Ambient Pressures
Publication information:
Kosuda K, Wittstock A, Friend C, Bäumer M. Oxygen-Mediated Coupling of Alcohols over Nanoporous Gold Catalysts at Ambient Pressures. Ang. Chem. Int. Ed. 2011;51(7):1698–1701.
Abstract
Unsupported catalyst for green chemistry: The aerobic oxidation and coupling of primary alcohols (methanol, ethanol, n-butanol) to give the corresponding aldehydes and esters at temperatures below 100 °C is facilitated by unsupported nanoporous gold catalysts. The experimental conditions employed allow a close comparison to model experiments and open the door to a molecular-level understanding of the reaction.