Propene Epoxidation with Dioxygen Catalyzed by Gold Clusters

Abstract

Size matters: Gold clusters (<2.0 nm), but not gold nanoparticles, deposited on alkaline-treated titanosilicalite-1 allow O2 and H2O to react to give hydroperoxides (-OOH). These transfer to neighboring Ti sites to form Ti-OOH (see scheme), which is responsible for propene epoxidation to give propene epoxide (PO).