Nano-TiO2-P25-SO3H as a new and robust photo-catalyst: The acceleration effect of selective oxidation of aromatic alcohols to aldehydes under blue LED irradiation

Nano photo-catalyst 'TiO2-P25-SO3H' has been synthesized for the first time as a covalently grafted solid acid and used for the oxidation of different aromatic alcohols to the corresponding carbonyl compounds under visible light irradiation (blue LED, lambda > 420 nm). This new and efficient nano photo-catalyst has selectively converted primary aromatic alcohols to the corresponding aldehydes in the presence of nitrobenzene as available industrial oxidant with excellent yields. This new powerful nano photo-catalyst provides a green and mild approach for photo-oxidation of alcohols.