Highly selective oxidation of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde with hydrogen peroxide by biphasic catalysis

An environmentally benign oxidation of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde with hydrogen peroxide as oxidant and metal dodecanesulfonate salts as catalysts was conducted under solvent-free condition by biphasic catalysis. Ferric tridodecanesulfonate showed excellent catalytic activity exhibiting complete conversion of benzyl alcohol with 194.4 mol/mol(cat) turnover number (TON) and nearly 100% selectivity to benzaldehyde at ambient pressure and 90 degrees C. This catalyst can be recovered and reused for three times without a significant loss in its activity and selectivity. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.