The electrocatalytic oxidation of alcohols mediated by TEMPO‐like nitroxyl radicals is an economically and industrially viable method that will shortly find commercial application in the synthesis of valued substances including active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), valued natural product derivatives, fine chemicals, and valued nanomaterials.
High
yields of valued benzaldehyde and benzyl benzoate are obtained
in one pot starting from benzyl alcohol using oxygen as only oxidant
under mild conditions (2 bar O2, 100 °C) along with
an ultralow amount (0.02 mol %) of Au nanoparticles heterogenized
over a spherical ORMOSIL mesoporous support. The process is remarkably
selective and the catalyst is stable.
We report the first catalytically active and stable sol−gel electrode functionalized with the TEMPO moiety for the highly selective oxidation of alcohols with an electric current only. The method shows broad applicability to different substrates, opening the route to the widespread adoption of this eminently clean technology by the fine chemical and pharmaceutical industries.
Recent advances in single-atom catalysis resulted in readily accessible materials whose application in most catalytic reactions mediated by conventional nanoparticle-based catalysts often results in higher activity and selectivity. Can we expect catalysis by atomically dispersed atoms to find practical applications? Which are the hurdles to be overcome prior to widespread uptake of atomically dispersed metals in industrial synthetic processes and in hydrogen fuel cells?
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