Stable and solubilized active Au atom clusters for selective epoxidation of cis-cyclooctene with molecular oxygen.

ABSTRACT: The ability of Au catalysts to effect the challenging task of utilizing molecular oxygen for the selective epoxidation of cyclooctene is fascinating. Although supported nanometre-size Au particles are poorly active, here we show that solubilized atomic Au clusters, present in ng ml^-1 concentrations and stabilized by ligands derived from the oxidized hydrocarbon products, are active. They can be formed from various Au sources. They generate initiators and propagators to trigger the onset of the auto-oxidation reaction with an apparent turnover frequency of 440 s^-1, and continue to generate additional initiators throughout the auto-oxidation cycle without direct participation in the cycle. Spectroscopic characterization suggests that 7-8 atom clusters are effective cata

SUBMITTER: Qian L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5379066 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature