Photocatalytic dihydroxylation of light olefins to glycols by water.

ABSTRACT: Aliphatic diols such as ethylene and propylene glycol are the key products in the chemical industry for manufacturing polymers. The synthesis of these molecules usually implies sequential processes, including epoxidation of olefins using hydrogen peroxide or oxygen with subsequent hydrolysis to glycols. Direct hydroxylation of olefins by cheap and green oxidants is an economically attractive and environmentally friendly route for the synthesis of diols. Here, we report a photocatalytic reaction for the dihydroxylation of ethylene and propylene to their glycols at room temperature using water as the oxidant. The photocatalyst contains Pd clusters stabilized by sub-nanometric polyoxometalate with TiO₂ as the host material. Under light irradiation, it results in production rates of

SUBMITTER: Dong C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11410969 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature