A mechanistic glimpse into the oxidation of alcohols using TEMPO/NOx catalytic systems: towards a greener bifunctional catalyst

Starting from the commercially available silica supported TEMPO and gaseous nitrogen dioxide, a heterogeneous catalyst was obtained and characterized; this is able to convert under mild and clean conditions alcohols into aldehydes and ketones, using molecular oxygen as the final oxidant. A mechanistic pathway is proposed, in which silica supported TEMPOacts as a scavenger and a generator for nitrogen dioxide.