Development of sustainable green catalysts for oxidation of alcohols via decorated palladium nanoparticles on magnetic carbon nanotube/MOF

Abstract

Using a straightforward method, this study fabricated an eco-friendly low-cost magnetic nanocomposite consisting of magnetic carbon nanotube/MOF as a stabilizer. Pd nanoparticles (Pd NPs) were then decorated on the designed magnetic carbon nanotube/MOF microspheres, and the resulting magnetic carbon nanotube/MOF/Pd NPs nanocomposite were employed as heterogeneous catalysts in Aerobic oxidation of primary and secondary alcohols. The attractiveness of this work is in the selective oxidation of several types of active and inactive alcohol substrates. The most important feature of this catalyst is its successful recovery and simple separation repeatedly without reducing its activity and selectivity. The active surface area of this Nanocatalyst is very large due to its structural properties, and as a result, it provides more available catalytic sites, which increases its activity. The identification techniques used to investigate the structural properties of this Nanocatalyst confirm its successful synthesis and appropriate palladium loading into the catalyst sites. The oxidation of alcohols was determined by Gas Chromatography (GC). The 100% selectivity, excellent turnover number (TON), high yield, almost complete and fast conversion of alcohol to the desired aldehydes and ketones without more oxidation, and easy and no-trouble isolation of product and catalyst are outstanding features of this catalytic system. The use of picolinaldehyde lead to the high loading of Pd NPs, reducing the catalyst content needed for the reaction. Regarding the high catalyst loading, using a small amount of catalyst is recommended for proceeding with the reaction efficiently.