Low-temperature, highly selective, gas-phase oxidation of benzyl alcohol over mesoporous K-Cu-TiO2 with stable copper(I) oxidation state.

A newly developed mesoporous mixed metal oxide (K-Cu-TiO(2)) catalyst is capable of highly selective, gas-phase benzyl alcoholbenzaldehyde transformation at excellent yields (>99%) under surprisingly low temperatures (203 degrees C, bp of benzyl alcohol). The low-temperature reaction conditions and integration of K and Cu(I) components into the TiO(2) matrix are of vital importance for the stabilization of an active Cu(I) oxidation state and resultant stable, excellent catalytic performance.