Photocatalytic oxidation of selected aryl alcohols in acetonitrile

Photocatalytic oxidation of selected aryl alcohols (1-7) has been carried out by using anatase titanium dioxide catalyst. The main oxidation products were the corresponding aldehydes or ketones and acids, in addition to unidentified minor compounds. Kinetic studies revealed a second-order reaction rate for benzyl alcohol, as a model alcohol, photocatalytic oxidation. The suggested mechanism envisages electron-hole pair formation on the catalyst surface followed by oxidation-reduction reactions. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.