Gold Catalysts: Towards Sustainable Chemistry

Abstract

As green as gold: Polymer-supported gold nanoparticles (see picture; Au purple spheres) are becoming popular as catalysts for the selective oxidation of alcohols using molecular oxygen under moderate conditions. Appropriate selection of the polymer substrates, functional groups, size of the gold particles, and solvents leads to higher catalytic activities than with gold catalysts supported on metal oxides or on activated carbon.