Gold/Palladium Catalysts Create Useful Materials for Aromatic Hydrocarbons

By Dr. Chianelli, The University of Texas at El Paso, Materials Research & Technology Institute

Researchers at Cardiff University in Wales reported that gold/palladium nano-particles are effective catalysts for selectively activating C–H bonds, allowing insertion of oxygen to create useful chemicals.¹ The particular reaction reported was the reaction of oxygen with toluene to form benzyl benzoate.² The Cardiff group, led by Graham Hutchings, has surprisingly demonstrated the important catalytic activity exhibited by normally inert noble metals such as gold.³ For example, they showed that gold/palladium nanoparticles would combine oxygen and hydrogen to form H₂O₂. This reaction has many potential useful applications in energy for fuels.⁴ One such hoped for reaction is the activation of the terminal C–H bonds of straight chain hydrocarbons, allowing the production of more useful products.

1. C&EN, “A New Feat for Gold Catalysts” 1/10/2011, page 9.
2. Science, DOI: 10.1126/science.1198458.
3. C&EN, 5/10/2010, page 42.
4. C&EN, 2/23/2009, page 8.