Wacker Oxidation in an Aqueous Phase through the Reverse Phase-Transfer Catalysis of a Self-Assembled Nanocage

Abstract

Abstract Self-assembled nanocage 1 was found to promote the aerobic, aqueous oxidation of styrene and its derivatives with the aid of (en)Pd(NO3)2. Obviously, the reaction was promoted by a double catalysis system: i.e., cage 1 acted as a reverse phase-transfer catalyst, whereas (en)Pd2+ as an oxidation catalyst.