Covalently grafted TEMPO on graphene oxide: A composite material for selective oxidations of alcohols

4-Amino-TEMPO, a stable nitroxide free radical, was covalently grafted onto graphene oxides through an amide bond and the new composite solid materials thus obtained were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, thermal and elemental analysis, infrared, Raman and electron spin resonance spectroscopy. It was found that these materials can be successfully used as easily recoverable solid catalysts for selective oxidation of alcohols, using NOx as co-catalyst and oxygen as final oxidant, under very mild conditions.