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Homogeneous catalysis

Controlled green oxidation

Nature volume 401, pages 436–437 (1999)Cite this article

*Seventh International Symposium on Dioxygen Activation and Homogeneous Catalytic Oxidation (ADHOC-99), York, UK, 19–23 July 1999.

Selectivity in catalytic oxidations, as with other chemical transformations, is crucial. Generating the desired product in low yield wastes money and natural resources and low selectivity means toxic or otherwise unacceptable by-products1. In general, catalyst stability often dictates economic viability. ‘Green’ oxidation requires the use of hydrogen peroxide or ideally air (or its reactive component dioxygen, O2) as the oxidant, and non-toxic solvents such as water or supercritical carbon dioxide. Unfortunately, air oxidations are intrinsically non-selective and difficult to control2. Such chain reactions involving free radicals are either too slow (for example, ageing of human tissue, plastics or metal surfaces) or too fast (for example, combustion) to be useful, except in fuel technology. In addition, the metals in homogeneous catalysts tend to precipitate from water as catalytically inactive and insoluble metal oxides.

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Figure 1: The ideal homogenous oxidation catalyst.

Notes

  1. *Seventh International Symposium on Dioxygen Activation and Homogeneous Catalytic Oxidation (ADHOC-99), York, UK, 19–23 July 1999.

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  1. Department of Chemistry, Emory University, Atlanta, 30322, Georgia, USA

    Craig L. Hill

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  1. Craig L. Hill
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Correspondence to Craig L. Hill.

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Hill, C. Controlled green oxidation. Nature 401, 436–437 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1038/46704

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