A green process for chlorine-free benzaldehyde from the solvent-free oxidation of benzyl alcohol with molecular oxygen over a supported nano-size gold catalyst

Abstract

Benzyl alcohol is oxidized selectively to benzaldehyde with high yield, with a little formation of benzylbenzoate, by molecular oxygen over a reusable nano-size gold catalyst supported on U3O8, MgO, Al2O3 or ZrO2 in the absence of any solvent.