Supported Au catalysts have been shown to effect selective oxidation of hydrocarbons.  Selective epoxidation of olefins can be achieved either using hydrogen peroxide, or, in the liquid phase, by coupling the reaction with CO oxidation.  In the latter case, a combination of two catalysts, Au/TiO2 and TS-1 was found to catalyze epoxidation of olefins that possess an alpha hydrogen, including propene and butene.  Interestingly, results from 18O isotope labelling of either O2 or H2O led to the conclusion that in a water-methanol solvent, the O in the epoxide was derived exclusively from O2 and not H2O or methanol.  Selective oxidation of saturated hydrocarbon, on the other hand, can be accomplished using a mixture of H2 and O2.  For example, propane can be oxidized to acetone.  This reaction, however, appears to require a Au particle in the proximity of a titanyl moiety. The implications of this to the reaction mechanism will be discussed.

Au catalysts-assisted selective hydrocarbon oxidation

242nd National Meeting (2011)

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