Waste Not, Want Not: Mild and Selective Catalytic Oxidation of Uronic Acids

Abstract

And isn't it uronic: A mild, highly efficient and selective catalytic oxidation of pectin-derived uronic acids to the corresponding aldaric acids is reported. Fast, quantitative conversions (>99%) of the starting materials are achieved with high selectivity (>97%) at room temperature, using supported gold catalysts and air as oxidizing agent.