Reaction Pathways over Copper and Cerium Oxide Catalysts for Direct Synthesis of Imines from Amines under Aerobic Conditions

CuO, CeO₂ and several CuO-CeO₂ catalysts are explored in the oxidative homocoupling of benzylamine. Supported CuO-CeO₂ catalysts are shown to provide higher rates than CuO nanoparticles. A series of experiments probing reaction pathways suggested that ceria and copper domains promote the reaction primarily via two distinct pathways.