Oxidation of α-pinene over gold containing bimetallic nanoparticles supported on reducible TiO2 by deposition-precipitation method

A series of bimetallic catalysts Au-M (where M = Cu, Co and Ru) were supported on a reducible TiO2 oxide via deposition-precipitation (DP) method with a slow decomposition of urea as the precipitating agent. The characteristic structural features of the prepared materials were characterized by various physico-chemical techniques such as X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). XPS results indicated the formation of alloyed bimetallic particles on the TiO2 support. TEM results confirmed the fine dispersion of metal nanoparticles on the support with an average particle size in the range of 3-5 nm. An industrially important process, oxy-functionalization of a-pinene was carried out over the prepared bimetallic heterogeneous catalysts under liquid phase conditions. Reaction parameters such as the reaction time, temperature, and the effect of solvent were studied for optimal conversion of alpha-pinene into verbenone. The major products obtained were verbenone, verbenol, alpha-pinene oxide and alkyl-pinene peroxide. The activity of the catalysts followed the order; AuCu/TiO2 > AuCo/TiO2 > Cu/TiO2 > Au/TiO2 > AuRu/TiO2. Upon comparison of the various catalysts, AuCu/TiO2 was found to be an active and selective catalyst towards the formation of verbenone. The temperature, nature of the catalysts and the choice of solvents greatly influenced the reaction rate. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.