Tuning the selectivity of a supported gold catalyst in solvent- and radical initiator-free aerobic oxidation of cyclohexene

Abstract

The selectivity of supported gold catalysts in aerobic oxidation of cyclohexene under solvent-free conditions without addition of a radical initiator was tuned by either WO₃ or the metal–organic framework MIL-101, used as a support/co-catalyst. WO₃ was found to promote the formation of cyclohexene oxide via reaction of cyclohexenyl hydroperoxide with cyclohexene, while MIL-101 catalysed conversion of cyclohexenyl hydroperoxide to 2-cyclohexen-1-one.