Highly selective oxidation of allylic alcohols catalysed by monodispersed 8-shell Pd nanoclusters in the presence of molecular oxygen

Treatment of Pd(4)phen(2) (CO)(2) (OAc)(4) with metal nitrates such as Cu(NO3)(2) produced monodispersed Pd nanoclusters with a mean diameter and standard deviation (d +/- sigma) of 38 +/- 2.1 Angstrom (sigma/d = 6%). The Pd nanoclusters act as heterogeneous catalysts for the selective oxidation of primary aromatic allylic alcohols using molecular oxygen as an oxidant. This unique catalysis can be ascribed to multiple interactions between the alcohol and specific ensemble sites consisting of Pd-0, Pd+, and Pd2+ on the cluster surface.