Highly selective oxidation of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde catalyzed by bimetallic gold–copper catalyst

The present study focuses on the smooth oxidation of benzyl alcohol by air in a vapor phase process affording benzaldehyde with high selectivity and yield, using mono- and bimetallic gold–copper on silica catalyst. Particularly efficient was the catalyst 1% Au–Cu/SiO2 with the weight ratio Au/Cu = 4, leading to perfume-grade, acid-free benzaldehyde in over 98% yield.