Magnetically recyclable core-shell nanocatalysts for efficient heterogeneous oxidation of alcohols

We describe the designed fabrication of magnetically recyclable core-shell Pd nanocatalysts for the efficient oxidation of alcohols under base-free reaction conditions in water. The Pd NPs that are half-partitioned in the polymer matrix can provide not only high catalytic activity but also stabilization of the nanocatalysts under harsh reaction conditions. Furthermore the magnetic separation provides a convenient method for removing and recycling the active Pd nanocatalysts from the reaction mixture. The designed nanocatalysts can be readily synthesized in a large scale and were able to be reused for five consecutive cycles of the oxidation of cycloheptanol. The nanocatalysts present high catalytic activity in other types of catalytic reactions involving Pd NPs such as Suzuki cross-coupling and reduction of nitroarenes.