| Institution: | 1. Faculty of Chemistry and Center for Nanointegration Duisburg-Essen (CENIDE), University of Duisburg-Essen, Carl-Benz-Straße 199, 47057 Duisburg, Germany;2. Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, Kiel University, Max-Eyth-Straße 2, 24118 Kiel, Germany
These authors contributed equally to this work.;3. Cardiff Catalysis Institute, Cardiff University, CF10 3AT Cardiff, United Kingdom;4. Faculty of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Lab. of Electrochemistry & Nanoscale Materials, Ruhr-University Bochum, Universitätsstraße. 150, ZEMOS 1.41, 44780 Bochum, Germany;5. Faculty of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Lab. of Industrial Chemistry, Ruhr-University Bochum, Universitätsstraße 150, NBCF 04 / 690, 44780 Bochum, Germany |
| Abstract: | Selective oxidation of higher alcohols using heterogeneous catalysts is an important reaction in the synthesis of fine chemicals with added value. Though the process for primary alcohol oxidation is industrially established, there is still a lack of fundamental understanding considering the complexity of the catalysts and their dynamics under reaction conditions, especially when higher alcohols and liquid-phase reaction media are involved. Additionally, new materials should be developed offering higher activity, selectivity, and stability. This can be achieved by unraveling the structure–performance correlations of these catalysts under reaction conditions. In this regard, researchers are encouraged to develop more advanced characterization techniques to address the complex interplay between the solid surface, the dissolved reactants, and the solvent. In this mini-review, we report some of the most important approaches taken in the field and give a perspective on how to tackle the complex challenges for different approaches in alcohol oxidation while providing insight into the remaining challenges. |
