Abstract: Ceria-supported Cu, Ir, and Pd catalysts showed quite promising activity for transfer dehydrogenation of cyclohexanol and 2-octanol to cyclohexanone and 2-octanone, respectively, using styrene as the hydrogen acceptor. The Cu/CeO2 and Pd/CeO2 catalysts were more active than the previously reported Cu and Pd catalysts supported on Al2O3, and Ir/CeO2 exhibited extremely high activity. The reactivity of alcohols decreased in the order 2-octanol>cyclohexanol>benzyl alcohol>1-octanol. The synergetic effect between the metals and CeO2 as well as the effective coupling of dehydrogenation of alcohols and hydrogenation of styrene was responsible for the high catalytic activity.

Key words: copper, iridium, palladium, ceria, alcohol, transfer dehydrogenation