Oxidative Esterification of Homologous 1,3-Propanediols

The oxidative esterification of a homologous series of diols (1,3-propanediol,2-methyl-propanediol and 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-propanediol) with methanol has been investigated using titania-supported gold, palladium and gold-palladium catalysts using molecular oxygen. The gold-palladium catalysts showed the highest activity and 1,3-propanediol was the most reactive while the additional methyl groups decreased the reactivity. However, it is possible to achieve high selectivity to methyl 3-hydroxypropionate and 2-methyl-3-hydroxyisobutyrate by mono-oxidations.