Nanocomposite shuttle-supported palladium nanoparticles as a PH-triggered phase transfer catalyst for the aerobic oxidation of alcohols

We synthesize a novel mesoporous nanocomposite shuttle. It can reversibly transfer between the organic and water phase in response to pH. It was used as the precursor to load palladium nanoparticles for the aerobic oxidation of alcohols. The whole oxidation process with the catalyst is highly efficient and chemo-selective. The nanocomposite shuttle can take Pd nanoparticles to an organic phase for catalyzing, and then come back to the aqueous phase, thus benefiting the separation and recycling of the catalysts. The catalyst is stable and can be reused for at least five runs. The catalyst we discovered not only makes the whole reaction homogeneous, but can also can be separated by decanting.