Efficient aerobic oxidation of alcohols and sulfides using an M-doped (M: Mn and Ni) zinc oxide nanostructure.

The generation of aldehydes and sulfoxides through selective oxidation process plays an essential role in different organic synthesis. However, using or toxic solvents under harsh reaction conditions leads to wastes and undesired by-products. With this background, ultrafast one-step fabrication of Ni/Mn doped-ZnO was developed under ultrasonic agitation for the first time. The resulting nanostructure was characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM, and BET analysis. According to data, a single-phase ZnO structure (wurtzite type) with uniform morphology, and acceptable surface area was obtained for the prepared nanocatalyst. Next, the catalytic activity of the nanostructure was investigated in aerobic oxidation of aliphatic and benzylic alcohols and sulfides. Notably, the present work is the first report of using ultrasound-engendered Ni/Mn doped-ZnO for selective aerobic oxidation reactions. It was found that the proposed nanostructure represented a novel chemical function for catalyzed alcohols and sulfides oxidation with excellent yields and selectivity without using any additives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]