Oxidation of Benzyl Alcohol using in Situ Generated Hydrogen Peroxide

Catalysts containing bimetallic goldpalladium nanoparticles are extremely active and selective for the oxidation of alcohols to aldehydes and the direct synthesis of hydrogen peroxide from molecular hydrogen and oxygen. We show that the oxidation of benzyl alcohol can be carried out at 50 degrees C and below by generating hydrogen peroxide in situ. The oxidation of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde has been achieved with high selectivity (>85%) at temperatures where no reaction is observed with only molecular oxygen in an autoclave. The effect of temperature, catalyst support, and solvent are studied in an autoclave system and reactions were carried out in a fixed bed reactor at a range of gas flow rates where the catalysts demonstrated stable conversion and selectivity.