Unraveling the synergy between gold nanoparticles and chromium-hydrotalcites in aerobic oxidation of alcohols.

Highlights: [•] Dual synergy between Au and Cr-hydrotalcite in liquid-phase alcohol oxidation. [•] Facile O2 activation by a Cr3+ ↔Cr6+ redox cycle at the gold-support interface. [•] Electron transfer from Cr-hydrotalcite to Au during Cr oxidation. [•] α-C–H bond cleavage controls the rate to greater extent than O–H bond cleavage. [•] Increasing Cr content and decreasing Au particle size enhance Au–Cr synergy. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]