Selectivity Control in Gold‐Mediated Esterification of Methanol

Abstract

The Midas touch: The low-temperature transformation of methanol to methyl formate, formaldehyde, and formic acid is promoted by atomic oxygen adsorbed on metallic gold (see picture). The reactions occur with O-containing Au nanoparticles formed on Au(111) upon oxidation with ozone at 200 K; the facile esterification to methyl formate occurs well below room temperature.