Selective suppression of toluene formation in solvent-free benzyl alcohol oxidation using supported Pd-Ni bimetallic nanoparticles

Abstract The solvent-free oxidation of benzyl alcohol was studied using supported Pd-Ni bimetallic nanoparticles. Compared with monometallic Pd, the addition of Ni to Pd was found to be effective in suppressing the nondesired product toluene, thereby enhancing the selectivity towards benzaldehyde. This result was attributed to a dual effect of Ni addition: the weakening of dissociative adsorption of benzyl alcohol and the promotion of oxygen species involved in the oxidation pathway.