Hexagonal CeO2 nanoplate@Au catalysts for the selective oxidation of 1,3-propanediol to a polymer platform, 3-hydroxypropionic acid at room temperature†

Abstract

Hexagonal CeO₂ plates (H-CeO₂) were prepared through template synthesis using a 2D hexagonal microporous organic polymer (H-MOP). After loading Au species onto H-CeO₂, the resulting H-CeO₂@Au was studied as a heterogeneous catalyst for the selective oxidation of 1,3-propanediol into an important polymer platform, 3-hydroxypropionic acid (3HP). The optimized catalyst, H-CeO₂@Au-2, achieved a 91% yield of 3HP at room temperature under ambient 1 atm O₂ and demonstrated recyclability over five successive runs.