Highly efficient oxidation of alcohols to carboxylic acids using a polyoxometalate-supported chromium(iii) catalyst and CO2

Abstract

Direct catalytic oxidation of alcohols to carboxylic acids is very attractive, but economical catalysis systems have not yet been well established. Here, we show that a pure inorganic ligand-supported chromium compound, (NH₄)₃[CrMo₆O₁₈(OH)₆] (simplified as CrMo₆), could be used to effectively promote this type of reaction in the presence of CO₂. In almost all cases, oxidation of various alcohols (aromatic and aliphatic) could be achieved under mild conditions, and the corresponding carboxylic acids can be achieved in high yield. The chromium catalyst 1 can be reused several times with little loss of activity. Mechanism study and control reactions demonstrate that the acidification proceeds via the key oxidative immediate of aldehydes.