Glucose oxidation using Au-containing bimetallic and trimetallic nanoparticles

Clean syntheses, based on the use of natural renewable reagents, in water solution under mild conditions, are highly desirable processes and often the catalytic step is a key factor for the successful application. Gold (Au) and Au-containing bimetallic and trimetallic nanoparticles (BNPs and TNPs) have been extensively investigated as the promising catalysts for the clean syntheses of gluconic acid, which is an important intermediate in the field of food industry and pharmaceutical applications, by glucose oxidation using atmospheric oxygen or hydrogen peroxide as an oxidant. With significant research efforts, a lot of new efficient catalytic systems, based on the peculiar properties of nanometric Au NPs, have been developed for aerobic glucose oxidation. In this minireview, we provide an overview of the recent development of Au-containing BNPs and TNPs for the improved catalytic performance toward glucose oxidation.