Oxidative esterification of acetol with methanol to methyl pyruvate over hydroxyapatite supported gold catalyst: Essential roles of acid-base properties

ABSTRACT Acetol is a major light oxygenate and readily produced from staged or fast pyrolysis of lignocellulose biomass. Herein we report that acetol can be selectively converted to methyl pyruvate, an important fine chemical, through oxidative esterification over Au-based catalysts. Detailed experimental studies showed that Au on amphoteric supports with appropriate strength and balanced ratio of acid and base sites can facilitate the desired oxidative-esterification pathway without accelerating undesired aldol-condensation or Cannizzaro reactions. In particular, hydroxyapatite (with a Ca/P ratio of 1.62) supported Au achieved 87% selectivity to methyl pyruvate at an acetol conversion of 62%.