Gold– and gold–palladium/poly(1-vinylpyrrolidin-2-one) nanoclusters as quasi-homogeneous catalyst for aerobic oxidation of glycerol

Glycerol was oxidized catalytically under aerobic conditions in the presence of monometallic nanoclusters of gold on poly(1-vinylpyrrolidin-2-one) (PVP) to give hydroxymalonic acid (tartronic acid) as the major product, together with 2,3-dihydroxypropanoic acid (glyceric acid) and hydroxyacetic acid (glycolic acid) as minor products. In contrast, oxalic acid was selectively obtained when bimetallic Au–Pd:PVP nanoclusters were used as the catalyst.