Insights into the micellar catalysed efficient oxidation of 2- and 3-pentanol by cerium(iv) in a greener medium of SDS and STS

Abstract

The use of environmentally benign water-based nanoreactors is crucial for sustainable organic synthesis. Herein, we report that nano micelles formulated using two surfactants (anionic sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and anionic sodium tetradecyl sulfate (STS)) in water efficiently catalysed Ce(IV) based oxidation of isomeric pentanols. The observed acceleration of the reaction rate in the presence of micelles has been ascribed to the solubilization of the reactants into micelles as well as the hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions between the surfactants and reactants. Interestingly, the maximum rate of reaction was observed when the reactions occurred in the SDS microenvironment. The kinetic outcomes are interpreted with the help of zeta potential, UV-vis spectroscopy, ¹H-NMR analysis, and favorable micellization of the surfactant system.