Catalytic properties of Au and Pd nanoparticles decorated on Cu2O microcubes for aerobic benzyl alcohol oxidation and Suzuki–Miyaura coupling reactions in water

• Cu2O/Au and Cu2O/Pd catalysts are synthesized using a microwave assisted technique.
• The decoration of nano-Au and Pd on to Cu2O microcubes invariably increased the catalytic activity.
• We confirmed that Cu2O/Au or/Pd catalyzed the aerobic oxidation of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde.
• We confirmed that Cu2O/Pd catalyzed the Suzuki–Miyaura coupling reaction in water.

The catalytic activities of Cu2O microcubes decorated with Au and Pd nanoparticles (Cu2O/Au and Cu2O/Pd) were synthesized by a microwave assisted technique and examined for the specific organic reactions, separately. Cu2O/Au and Cu2O/Pd catalysts were characterized and examined as the catalysts for the aerobic oxidation of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde and the Suzuki–Miyaura coupling reaction in water, separately. The yields of products were >90% with a selectivity of >99% for both catalytic reactions. The cheap, ligand free, efficient, non-toxic, and water soluble properties make the present catalyst ultimate for Suzuki and aerobic oxidation reaction.

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