A green and efficient oxidation of alcohols by supported gold catalysts using aqueous H2O2 under organic solvent-free conditions

The use of supported gold nanoparticles as an efficient, green and reusable catalyst for the oxidation of various alcohols to the corresponding carbonyl compounds using aqueous hydrogen peroxide as an environmentally benign oxidant is presented. The reaction proceeds with good to excellent yields in particular for nonactivated alcohols under base-free conditions.