Selective Oxidation of Glycerol with O2 Catalyzed by LDH Hosted Transition Metal Complexes

Abstract

A series of Mg–Al layered-double hydroxides (LDHs) intercalated by sulphonato-Schiff base complexes were prepared for the selective oxidation of glycerol (GLY) with O2 as oxidant. The results revealed the LDH hosted complexes were effective catalysts, and their catalytic performance were closely related to the structures and composition of catalysts, the base environments of reaction mixtures as well as the reaction conditions. Among them, LDH hosted copper complex displayed the highest catalytic performance, and the GLY conversion could reach 82.5 with 86.1 % of the selectivity to glyceric acid (GLYAC). Moreover, the catalytic performance remained after being recycled seven times. LDH hosted transition metal complex catalysts were promising catalysts for the selective oxidation of GLY to glyceric acid with O2. The catalytic performance of catalysts and the product distribution were found to be closely related to the structures and composition of catalysts, the base environments of reaction mixtures as well as the reaction conditions. The best GLY conversion reached 82.5 with 86.1 % of the selectivity to GLYAC.