Selective oxidation of allylic alcohols catalyzed by silver exchanged molybdovanado phosphoric acid catalyst in the presence of molecular oxygen

The Keggin type 12-molybdophosphoric acid is modified by incorporation of vanadium or silver and used as a heterogeneous catalyst for selective oxidation using molecular oxygen as an oxidant. A variety of aromatic and aliphatic primary and secondary allylic alcohols are used as reactants to convert them into their corresponding aldehydes and ketones. Good to excellent yields are achieved when 12-molybdophosphoric acid contains both vanadium and silver. The high catalytical activity might be due to a synergistic effect between silver cationic centers and the redox active vanadium centers. The present catalyst is reusable without any appreciable loss in activity.