Selective aqueous oxidation of alcohols catalyzed by copper (II) phthalocyanine nanoparticles

A new catalyst based on metallophthalocyanine nanoparticles has been synthesized and characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The aqueous oxidation of alcohols to the corresponding carbonyl compounds (aldehydes and ketones) has been studied using tetra-n-butyl-ammonium-peroxo-monosulfate (n-Bu₄NHSO₅) as an oxidant and a catalytic system consisting of copper (II) phthalocyanine nanoparticles in water. The highly selective oxidation gave excellent yields of related aldehydes or ketones without remarkable over-oxidation of the carboxylic acids. Organic co-solvents, surfactants, and co-catalysts were not used in this catalytic strategy. This strategy was green and time effective. The oxidant's by-product (TBAHSO₄) and catalyst can be efficiently recovered and reused several times without any significant change of catalytic activity.