Green oxidation of alcohols with hydrogen peroxide catalyzed by a tetra-cobalt polyoxometalate in water

Abstract

In this work it was demonstrated that the sodium and potassium salts of a sandwich-type tetra-cobalt tungstophosphate, [Co4(H2O)2(PW9O34)2]10−, are efficient catalysts for the selective oxidation of alcohols into corresponding aldehydes with hydrogen peroxide in water. Among these two salts, Na10[Co4(H2O)2(PW9O34)2]·27H2O complex showed better catalytic activity for the alcohols’ oxidation. Using trace amounts of catalyst, different benzylic and aliphatic hydroxyl groups were converted into the corresponding carbonyl compounds in high to excellent yields. In this work green and efficient catalytic oxidation of various alcohols to aldehydes and ketons with a sandwich-type tetra-cobalt tungstophosphate, [Co4(H2O)2(PW9O34)2]10−, is developed. High-to-excellent yields for oxidation of different alcohols by hydrogen peroxide in water are some advantageous of this catalytic system.