Efficient Visible Light-Driven Oxidation of Bio-1-butanol over a TiO2-based Photocatalyst system

Abstract

Mild oxidation of bio-1-butanol to valuable chemicals is a great challenge as catalysts without both base and noble metal for the high activity activation of aliphatic alcohol C–H bonds are required. Here, we report the highly efficient and selective photo-oxidation of n-butanol to butyric acid with one balloon of dioxygen under blue LED light irradiation using a binary TiO2/NaBr catalyst system. Moreover, the TiO2 photocatalyst enables the facile complexation with alcohol species, thereby responding to visible light and realizing oxidation of alcohol to acid. Importantly, the NaBr cocatalyst could enhance light absorption and the aliphatic alcohol oxidation performance.