Gold supported on nanocrystalline β-Ga2O3 as a versatile bifunctional catalyst for facile oxidative transformation of alcohols, aldehydes, and acetals into esters

Article abstract of DOI:10.1002/chem.200800982

Facile oxidative transformation of alcohols, aldehydes, and acetal into esters has been demonstrated using bifunctional catalyst of gold supported nanocrystalline β-Ga²O³. The study used alcoholic gel-precipitation method to prepare nanocrystalline support and X-ray diffraction (XRD) to characterize the diffraction features of synthesized nanocrystalline support. The study observed that the Au/β-Ga ₂O₃ catalyst can be reused after aerobic oxidation with maintaining catalytic activity and selectivity for oxidative esterification. The study also observed that aromatic and aliphatic primary alcohols can be converted into their methyl, ethyl, or propyl esters with high selectivities. The study also found that the esters produced after esterification were in good yields.