Abstract: Isoamyl nitrite was employed to catalyze the selective oxidation of benzyl alcohol to benzyl aldehyde using molecular oxygen, in which solid sulfonic acid was used to promote the in situ generation of nitrosonium cation. Solid acid prepared by treating Amberlyst 15 at 300 oC demonstrated the best promotion effect, with which 90% conversion and 97% selectivity for benzyl aldehyde could be achieved at 80 oC under 0.5 MPa for 2 h. The differences of solid acids and their influence on oxidation were investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, derivative thermogravimetry, and acid-base titration. Nitrosonium cation was detected by the derivative method using ultravio-let-visible absorption spectrometry.

Key words: isoamyl nitrite, nitrosonium cation, solid sulfonic acid, benzyl alcohol, oxidation, molecular oxygen, benzyl aldehyde