Partial oxidation of alcohols in supercritical carbon dioxide

Abstract

Oxidation of water-insoluble alcohols in supercritical CO2 over a Pd–Pt–Bi/C catalyst in a continuous fixed bed reactor affords high reaction rates and yields up to 98% of the corresponding ketones, aromatic and α,β-unsaturated aliphatic aldehydes, without the risk of using a flammable organic solvent.