Switchable Synthesis of Aldehydes and Carboxylic Acids from Alcohols by Platinum-Catalysed Hydrogen Peroxide Oxidation Using Flow Reactors

Switchable synthesis of aldehydes and carboxylic acids from alcohols by Pt-catalysed H2O2 oxidation is performed for the first time using flow reactors. The use of an optimised amount of zero-valent Pt black diluted with SiO2 catalyst demonstrates controlled H2O2 oxidation of allylic alcohols, benzyl alcohols, and aliphatic alcohols. From a probe reaction, Pt catalytic activity to produce a carboxylic acid from the corresponding alcohol improves depending on the temperature increasing from 40 to 90 degrees C. The set of reaction conditions about the combination of temperature and flow rate as a simple trigger works sensitively to divide the formation of aldehydes and carboxylic acids without tuning by additives.

Automated summary

The switchable synthesis of aldehydes and carboxylic acids from alcohols using Pt-catalysed H2O2 oxidation in flow reactors is reported for the first time. Optimized conditions using zero-valent Pt black diluted with SiO2 catalyst enable controlled oxidation of different types of alcohols. The catalytic activity of Pt to produce carboxylic acids increases with temperature, and the combination of temperature and flow rate serves as a trigger to selectively generate aldehydes or carboxylic acids.