Novel Ru-fluoridated apatite catalyst with nano-rod morphology for highly efficient aerobic oxidation of alcohols

Recyclable Ru-fluoridated apatite catalyst with nano-rod morphology, newly developed by chemical precipitation and ion change methods under mild conditions, has demonstrated highly efficient aerobic oxidation of benzyl alcohol at 353 K with good selectivity (>99%) and excellent reaction yield (TOF: ~202 h-1). The enhanced activity was preliminarily ascribed to the more amounts of small hydrated Ru3+-oxide nanoparticles existing in the surface of fluoridated apatite compared to RuHAp because of the well-known low solubility and high acid fastness of fluoridated apatite compared to HAp. Keywords: Fluoridated apatite; ruthenium; aerobic oxidation of alcohol