Oxidation of methyl and n-octyl α-d-glucopyranoside over graphite-supported platinum catalysts: effect of the alkyl substituent on activity and selectivity

The oxidation of methyl and n-octyl α-d-glucopyranoside to methyl and n-octyl α-d-glucopyranosiduronate with molecular oxygen over a graphite-supported platinum catalyst was investigated. An increase of the length of the n-alkyl substituent from methyl to n-octyl resulted in a ten-fold decrease of the catalyst activity and an increase of the selectivity at pH 8.0 and 323 K. The selectivity decreased with increasing pH. The lower activity for a longer n-alkyl substituent is attributed to steric effects upon adsorption on the platinum surface and not to internal diffusion limitations. A tentative reaction scheme is presented, which describes the formation of side products through oxidation of secondary hydroxyl groups, ring cleavage and hydrolysis. Major side products are mono- and di-carboxylates with 2, 4, and 6 carbon atoms and mono-carboxylates, resulting from the oxidation of the alkyl substituent. CC-Bond cleavage mainly occurs between C-2 and C-3 or C-4 and C-5, the former being less important for a longer alkyl substituent. The higher selectivity for a longer alkyl substituent is attributed to its protecting ability against hydrolysis and the exposition of neighboring hydroxyl groups to the platinum surface.