Oxidation of Acohols, Diols, and Polyols Using Au-Pd/C Bimetallic Catalysts Prepared by Electroless Deposition

A series of Au-Pd/C catalysts have been prepared by electroless deposition.  Kinetic data for the oxidation of alcohols and polyols shows significant increase in catalytic activity. Oxidation experiments performed for deuterium substituted compounds show the rate determining step for the mechanism is dehydrogenation of alpha carbon to form aldehyde intermediate.