Liquid phase oxidation of alcohols with oxygen: in situ monitoring of the oxidation state of Bi-promoted Pd/Al2O3Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: XANES spectra at the Bi L3-edge. See http://www.rsc.org/suppdata/cc/b3/b304508k/

In situ, time-resolved XAS studies on a Bi-Pd/Al2O3 catalyst indicate that Pd, and Bi located on the Pd surface, are in a reduced, metallic state during the oxidation of 1-phenylethanol with molecular oxygen--a key for understanding the role of promoter in the reaction mechanism.