Nanocrystalline Magnesium Oxide-Stabilized Molybdenum: An Efficient Heterogeneous Catalyst for the Aerobic Oxidation of Alcohols to Carbonyl Compounds

A nanocrystalline magnesium oxide-stabilized molybdenum(VI) complex catalyzed the oxidation of primary and secondary alcohols to carbonyl Compounds in excellent yields using molecular oxygen as stoichiometric oxidant. The nanomaterials with their three-dimensional structure and defined size and shape act as suitable supports for metal complexes. The catalyst can be reused for four runs without any significant loss of activity.