A reduced graphene oxide-supported iridium nanocatalyst for selective transformation of alcohols into carbonyl compounds via a green process

Abstract A nanocatalyst constructed from reduced graphene oxide and iridium atoms (RGOIrNc) showed high selectivity (99%–100%) and reliability for the transformation of aromatic alcohols into carbonyl compounds via ultrasonication without using harmful chemicals and solvents. Experimental data including Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction, spherical-aberration-corrected field emission transmission electron microscopy and Raman spectra confirmed the nanostructure of the RGOIrNc. Noticeably, the structural characteristics of this catalyst remained unchanged within 25 catalytic cycles and the activity and selectivity for the transformation of benzylic alcohols showed good stability. The average turnover frequency is greater than 9000 h ⁻¹ , the total turnover number is more than 150 000 after 25 catalytic cycles and the productivity of carbonyl compounds reaches 376 048 mo{l}_{carbonylcompound}{kg}_{GO−Ircomplex}⁻¹ , indicating that RGOIrNc catalyst has good durability and stability and high ‘greenness’.