Supported carbon catalysts for the oxidative esterification of aldehydes, alcohols, and olefins

Abstract

Esters play a critical role in industrial chemistry, serving as key components in the production of fine chemicals, polymers, and liquid fuels. Although traditionally synthesised by acid esterification, esters can also be prepared by the direct oxidative esterification of diverse starting materials, including aldehydes, alcohols and olefins. Metal oxides are promising heterogeneous catalysts for oxidative esterification, and their use in conjunction with a support phase affords synergies that can promote performance. Carbon supports are ubiquitous in catalysis due to their tuneable porosity, acid-base properties, high conductivity and chemical stability. This review discusses recent advances in the oxidative esterification of alcohols, aldehydes, alkenes, and alkynes over carbon-supported catalysts, outlining the commercial importance of esters and traditional esterification methods, and potential advantages of oxidative esterification. Methods to synthesise carbon catalysts and bifunctional heteroatom-doped analogues are introduced, with resulting structure-activity relationships for oxidative esterification highlighted, including the role of radicals. The resulting insight helps to identify strategies to circumvent current challenges in oxidative esterification and future opportunities to apply this methodology.