An efficient mixed micellar strategy for the catalytic oxidation of benzyl alcohol by diperiodatoargentate(iii) in aqueous media

Abstract

Mixed micelles, an emerging strategy with the potential to perform an organic reaction in aqueous phase, have been employed in the oxidation of benzyl alcohol by diperiodatoargentate(III) in alkaline media. Herein, two commonly available surfactants, cationic CPC (cetylpyridinium chloride) and nonionic Brij-35 (polyoxyethylene (23) lauryl ether), are used to fabricate the micellar assembly, which have shown a huge catalytic activity for the aforementioned oxidation process, since the reaction time reduces from 1 day to 5 min. In order to evaluate the synergistic effect of the CPC/Brij-35 binary mixture in the oxidation process, the favourable micellization, greater solubilisation of benzyl alcohol, and the significant electrostatic attraction between the negatively charged Ag(III) metal centre and the mixed micellar microenvironment have been corroborated. Dynamic light scattering, zeta potential, and ¹H NMR measurements supported the kinetic profile of the oxidation while CMCs for all compositions have been determined from conductometric and fluorometric measurements. On the basis of all these results, we have suggested a possible pathway and reaction zone in mixed micellar media.