Oxidative Cleavage of 9,10-Dihydroxystearic Acid on Supported Au, Pd and PdAu Nanoparticle-Based Catalysts

The oxidative C-C cleavage of a C18 substrate is an important transformation in synthetic organic chemistry, facilitating the synthesis of valuable C8-C9 acids widely used in many industries. Through a comparative analysis of the catalytic and physicochemical properties of catalysts, comprising mono- (Pd or Au) and bimetallic (PdAu) nanoparticles deposited on oxides, oxyhydroxides and graphite-like carbon material Sibunit (Cp), it was shown that the efficiency of the catalyst in the oxidative cleavage of 9,10-dihydroxystearic acid relies on the nature of the active component, the support and the average size of metal nanoparticles (NPs). The dependency of 9,10-DSA conversion on the average size of metal NPs shows the structural sensitivity of the oxidative cleavage reaction. Notably, catalysts with an average size of gold particles less than 3 nm exhibit the highest activity. The nature of the active component and the support material are crucial factors determining the process selectivity. Among the catalysts studied, the most effective for the oxidative cleavage of 9,10-DSA is a material based on Au NPs deposited on Cp.