Selective Oxidation of Propanol on Au(111): Mechanistic Insights into Aerobic Oxidation of Alcohols

Pick and choose: Achieving acceptable selectivities from alcohols to desirable aldehydes or ketones remains a challenge. Bulk Au(111) pre-covered with atomic oxygen is highly selective for the partial oxidation of 1- and 2-propanol. Insights into intrinsic mechanistic details for high-surface-area gold-based catalysts (see scheme) are also presented.