Recyclable SBA-15-Supported Gold Nanocatalyst Enabling Sustainable, Ultrasonic-Accelerated Oxidation of Primary Alcohols to Aldehydes in Water

A structurally optimized heterogeneous mesoporous SBA-15-supported gold nanocatalyst facilitated efficient, ultrasonic-accelerated oxidation of primary alcohols to aldehydes at room temperature in water, using molecular oxygen as the oxidant. The use of stoichiometric metal-based oxidants and organic solvents as well as high-temperature environments was avoided. The catalyst exhibited excellent recyclability, maintaining its activity for over 10 cycles without leaching, thereby reducing the synthesis costs. In addition, primary alcohols could be oxidized into esters by this catalytic system in a mixed solvent of alcohol and water. This green approach eliminated the use of organic solvents, minimized waste generation, and utilized ultrasonics to enhance reaction kinetics. This method can be applied to aromatic, heteroaromatic, and aliphatic alcohols, providing a sustainable strategy for a variety of aldehyde production.