title: Solvent-free oxidation of primary carbon-hydrogen bonds in toluene using Au-Pd alloy nanoparticles.
abstract: Selective oxidation of primary carbon-hydrogen bonds with oxygen is of crucial importance for the sustainable exploitation of available feedstocks. To date, heterogeneous catalysts have either shown low activity and/or selectivity or have required activated oxygen donors. We report here that supported gold-palladium (Au-Pd) nanoparticles on carbon or TiO(2) are active for the oxidation of the primary carbon-hydrogen bonds in toluene and related molecules, giving high selectivities to benzyl benzoate under mild solvent-free conditions. Differences between the catalytic activity of the Au-Pd nanoparticles on carbon and TiO(2) supports are rationalized in terms of the particle/support wetting behavior and the availability of exposed corner/edge sites.
authors.affiliation: Cardiff Catalysis Institute, School of Chemistry, Cardiff University, Main Building, Park Place, Cardiff CF10 3AT, UK.
authors.forename: Lokesh
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kesavan
authors.forename: Ramchandra
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tiruvalam
authors.forename: Mohd Hasbi
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Ab Rahim
authors.forename: Mohd Izham
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: bin Saiman
authors.forename: Dan I
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Enache
authors.forename: Robert L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Jenkins
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dimitratos
authors.forename: Jose A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Lopez-Sanchez
authors.forename: Stuart H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: David W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Knight
authors.forename: Christopher J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Kiely
authors.forename: Graham J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Hutchings