Thermosensitive gold nanoclusters stabilized by well-defined vinyl ether star polymers: Reusable and durable catalysts for aerobic alcohol oxidation

Au nanoclusters of less than 4 nm with a narrow size distribution were prepared and supported in thermosensitive vinyl ether star polymers obtained by living cationic polymerization. The thermosensitivity of the star polymers permitted easy separation of the clusters from the reaction mixture without any negative aggregation. Thus, the Au clusters could be recovered for reuse several times to induce alcohol oxidation with similar reactivity in each run.