Ceria nanoparticles as an efficient catalyst for oxidation of benzylic CH bonds

Catalytic oxidation of benzylic CH bonds with potassium bromate to carbonyl compounds was studied in the presence of ceria nanoparticles (NPs). Aldehydes and ketones in high yields were obtained when the oxidation was conducted in water/1,4-dioxane/acetic acid (AcOH) by ratio 5/1/1 (v/v/v). Benzyl esters were also yielded as the main products from the oxidation of benzylic CH bonds with potassium bromate in the presence of ceria NPs in glacial acetic acid. In comparison with other methods reported in the literature, ceria NPs as an efficient catalyst in oxidation of benzylic CH bonds have advantageous such as selectivity, recyclability, high reaction rate, and high yield of product because of their large specific surface area to volume ratio.

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► Ceria NPs were used as a novel and efficient catalyst for the oxidation of arenes.
► Ceria NPs recovered in subsequent reactions without any significant loss of activity.
► Ceria NPs as catalyst leads to short reaction time and high yields of the products.
► In the presence of ceria NPs, the oxidation reaction is done in a mild conditions.