Chitosan-stabilized gold, gold–palladium, and gold–platinum nanoclusters as efficient catalysts for aerobic oxidation of alcohols

Chitosan was used as a stabilizer for the synthesis of Au, AuPd and AuPt nanoclusters (NCs). The produced NCs had a narrow particle size distribution with sizes less than 2.3 nm in diameter and were characterized by various techniques such as UV–Visible spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscope energy dispersive spectroscopy (STEM-EDS). These metal NCs exhibited high catalytic activity toward the aerobic oxidation of various alcohols under ambient conditions comparable with the reported Au:PVP catalyst. Au NCs protected by chitosan could easily be recovered for repeated use.

Graphical abstractChitosan-stabilized (Au:Chit) gold nanoclusters used as efficient and reusable catalysts for aerobic oxidation of various alcohols.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload high-quality image (184 K)Download as PowerPoint slideHighlights► New preparative methods for the chitosan stabilized metal nanoclusters. ► The produced NCS were uniform in size distribution (2.3 ± 0.2 nm). ► Efficient catalytic activity toward the aerobic oxidation of various alcohols. ► Comparable catalytic activity to previously reported Au:PVP catalysts. ► Heterogeneous catalysts and can be reused several times.