Promoting effect of 4-dimethylaminopyridine on selective oxidation of benzyl alcohol over MoVTeNb mixed oxides

A liquid phase oxidation of benzyl alcohol with 1 atm molecular oxygen catalyzed by MoVTeNb mixed oxides has been investigated. It is demonstrated that 4-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP) acting as a co-catalyst, notably accelerates the reaction, as well as influences the ratio of the reaction products (benzaldehyde, benzyl benzoate and benzoic acid). The findings can be interpreted in terms of the involvement of DMAP (a good enough N-nucleophile) in the process of chemo-desorption of oxygenates formed on the catalyst surface