Gold Nanoparticle-Catalyzed Environmentally Benign Deoxygenation of Epoxides to Alkenes

Abstract

We have developed a highly efficient and green catalytic deoxygenation of epoxides to alkenes using gold nanoparticles (NPs) supported on hydrotalcite [HT: Mg6Al2CO3(OH)16] (Au/HT) with alcohols, CO/H2O or H2 as the reducing reagent. Various epoxides were selectively converted to the corresponding alkenes. Among the novel metal NPs on HT, Au/HT was found to exhibit outstanding catalytic activity for the deoxygenation reaction. Moreover, Au/HT can be separated from the reaction mixture and reused with retention of its catalytic activity and selectivity. The high catalytic performance of Au/HT was attributed to the selective formation of Au-hydride species by the cooperative effect between Au NPs and HT.

Keywords

• gold nanoparticle
• hydrotalcite
• deoxygenation
• epoxide
• alkene