Catalysis of giant palladium cluster complexes. Highly selective oxidations of primary allylic alcohols to α,β-unsaturated aldehydes in the presence of molecular oxygen

Abstract

A giant Pd cluster, Pd 561phen 60(OAc) 180, has high catalytic activity for the selective oxidations of various primary allylic alcohols to the corresponding α,β-unsaturated aldehydes in the presence of molecular oxygen under mild reaction conditions. A Pd cluster anchored on TiO 2 also catalyzes the above oxidations; the heterogeneous Pd 561 cluster catalyst is easily separated from the reaction mixture and is reusable.