Au–Pd alloy nanoparticles supported on layered double hydroxide for heterogeneously catalyzed aerobic oxidative dehydrogenation of cyclohexanols and cyclohexanones to phenols

in air as the terminal oxidant, and generates water as the only by-product, highlighting the potential practical utility and environmentally benign nature of the present transformation. Dehydrogenative aromatization of cyclohexanols proceeds through (1) oxidation of cyclohexanols to cyclohexanones; (2) dehydrogenation of cyclohexanones to cyclohexenones; and (3) disproportionation of cyclohexenones to afford the desired phenols. In the present Au-Pd/LDH-catalyzed transformation, the oxidation of the Pd-H species is included in the rate-determining step.