Activation of primary C-H bonds in hydrocarbon feedstocks is crucial to the sustainable exploitation of available resources for making more valuable and reactive molecules. Cardiff University, UK, chemists working with colleagues in Pennsylvania, USA, have developed a gold-palladium catalyst in the form of alloy nanoparticles supported on carbon or titania.

The nanoparticles offer yields of greater than 90 % in the activation of the C-H bonds in toluene, and related compounds, without added solvent. The team has rationalized the differences in yields seen with each support material to further improve the process.

• Solvent-Free Oxidation of Primary Carbon-Hydrogen Bonds in Toluene Using Au-Pd Alloy Nanoparticles
  L. Kesavan, R. Tiruvalam, M. Hasbi Ab Rahim, M. Izham Bin Saiman, D. I. Enache et al.,
  Science 2011, 331(6014), 195-199.
  DOI: 10.1126/science.1198458