The Catalytic Dehydrogenation of Alcohols with Reduced Copper under Ultraviolet Light

In order to investigate whether or not the dehydrogenation activity of the reduced copper is affected by ultraviolet light, the reaction of such alcohols as ethanol, 1-propanol, 2-propanol, and 1-butanol was carried out with reduced copper and ultraviolet light at 250°C. It was found that the conversion of alcohols and the yield of aldehydes were larger with the reduced copper under ultraviolet light than without the light, and that aldol condensation for the ethanol reaction was recognizable when the reduced copper catalyst was used without ultraviolet light.