Liquid phase aerobic oxidation of benzyl alcohol over Pd and Rh catalysts on N-doped mesoporous carbon: Effect of the surface acido-basicity

► Nitrogen doping in mesoporous carbon tunes its surface to basic. ► Basic carbon support promotes the oxidation of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde. ► Acidic carbon support leads to the formation of di-benzyl ether and hydrobenzoin.