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Gold nanoparticles supported on magnesium oxide nanorods (Au-MgO) have been synthesised by a solution based chemical reduction method. Au-MgO nanorods were found to be an efficient heterogeneous catalyst for oxidation of alcohols with hydrogen peroxide in aqueous medium at room temperature. To find out the best reaction conditions for oxidation, optimization of catalyst quantity, solvent, mole equivalence of hydrogen peroxide were carried out. The scope of the reaction was extended to several aromatic and aliphatic alcohols, product yields were quantified by gas chromatography (GC) and GC/mass spectroscopy. Heterogeneity and reusability tests were performed. The use of water as a solvent and hydrogen peroxide as co-catalyst at room temperature makes the reaction interesting from sustainable development point of view.

Ceria supported gold nanoparticles (Au-CeO2 NPs) were prepared by a simple deposition-precipitation method. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and Raman analysis indicated the formation of gold nanoparticles over phase pure cerianite ceria support. The presence of gold nanoparticles was well identified by UV-DRS study. In addition, the field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) and high resolution transmission electron microscope (HR-TEM) images revealed that the maximum number of particles having spherical shape were approximately 10 nm size. Subsequently, surface area of the catalyst determined from BET, Langmuir and DFT methods were found to be 83.1, 134 and 85.2 m2 g(-1) respectively. N2 absorption-desorption measurement revealed that Au-CeO2 NPs was mesoporous in nature. Au-CeO2 NPs proved to be an efficient catalyst for the O-arylation reactions. The reaction conditions were optimized using 2,6-dimethoxyphenol and 1-chloro-4-nitrobenzene as a model substrate by changing the solvent, base, quantity of catalyst, and temperature. The scope of the work was extended to various substituted phenols and aryl halides (F, Cl and Br) and reusability of catalyst was tested for four cycles which showed no loss in its activity.

Mesoporous nickel aluminosilicate, a solid acid catalyst prepared by sol-gel technique was utilized as a heterogeneous catalyst for the synthesis of symmetrical ethers by dehydro-condensation of alcohols. The prepared catalysts were characterized by Fourier-transform infra red spectroscopy (FT-IR), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX), N2 adsorption-desorption analysis, temperature programmed desorption of ammonia (TPD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic techniques. The presence of the catalyst assisted the etherification reaction in 30 minutes. Ethers formed in these reactions were quantified by gas chromatography (GC) and the identities of few of them were confirmed by nuclear magnetic resonance spectral data (NMR).