Oxidation of Glycerol and Propanediols in Methanol over Heterogeneous Gold Catalysts

Aerobic oxidation of glycerol over metal oxide supported gold nanoparticles in methanol results in the formation of dimethyl mesoxalate in selectivities up to 89% at full conversion. The oxidative esterification takes place in methanol, acting both as solvent and reactant, and in the presence of base. Thus, it constitutes a direct transformation of the glycerol by-product phase from biodiesel production or from glycerol obtained e.g. by fermentation. Au/TiO2 and Au/Fe2O3 was found to have similar catalytic activity, whereas Au/C was inactive. 1,2-Propanediol was oxidized to methyl lactate with a selectivity of 72% at full conversion, while 1,3-propanediol yielded methyl 3-hydroxypropionate with 90% selectivity at 94% conversion. Methyl 3-hydroxy propionate can be easily converted into methyl acrylate, which is then a green polymer building block.