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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