Heterogeneous selective oxidation of fatty alcohols: Oxidation of 1-tetradecanol as a model substrate

• Tetradecanol is efficiently oxidized over supported nano gold catalysts.
• High selectivity to aldehyde or acid is reached, depending on reaction conditions.
• Different reaction pathways lead to formation of the ester and of the acid.
• Results support the feasibility of higher fatty alcohols heterogeneous oxidation.

sSelective oxidation of fatty alcohols, i.e., linear long-chain alkanols, has been scarcely investigated to date, despite its potential application in high value chemical's production. We report for the first time the liquid phase heterogeneous oxidation of 1-tetradecanol, used as a model molecule for fatty alcohols, according to green chemistry principles by using a Au/CeO2–Al2O3 catalyst and O2 as oxidant at normal pressure. High selectivity to tetradecanal (ca. 80%) or to tetradecanoic acid (60–70%) are reached at medium conversion (up to 38%), depending on the reaction conditions used. Comparison with similar tests of 1-octanol oxidation shows that the increase of the carbon chain length decreases the alcohol conversion and the formation of ester, probably due to a greater steric effect.

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