Localized basification of catalytic surfaces enhances the selective oxidation of L -sorbose over supported Pt catalysts modified with tertiary amines

Modification of supported Pt catalysts with strongly adsorbing tertiary amines is shown to be an efficient method to increase the reaction rate in the direct oxidation of L-sorbose to 2-keto-L-gulonic acid with molecular oxygen, and to increase the selectivity of the base-sensitive reaction.