Gold intermediate found in green synthesis
15-Mar-2013
- USA
A gold ketenylidene species (Au2=C=C=O) has been identified as a key intermediate in the partial oxidation of acetic acid over a gold/TiO2 catalyst – a reaction that could have important consequences for environmentally friendly organic synthesis. Gold and TiO2 both play a part in the catalysis, with C–H bond scission occurring at the former and C–O scission at the latter.
Such reactions could represent important routes to the de-oxygenation of acids and esters derived from bio-renewable intermediates, and hence the green manufacture of important bulk chemicals.
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