A synergistic combination of SDS and TX-100 for the catalytic oxidation of an aromatic alcohol in aqueous media

Abstract In aqueous medium, oxidation of an aromatic alcohol (4-chlorobenzyl alcohol) was carried out in aqueous mixed micellar media under pseudo first order condition by chromic acid at 30 ºC. The micellar microenvironment constituted by anionic SDS and nonionic TX-100 surfactants showed excellent catalytic performance in course of oxidation, individually. In addition to that the nanomicelle produced by combination of SDS and TX-100 was found to be effective microheterogeneous catalyst for the aforementioned oxidation process. Use of two organic precursors, Phen and Bpy, entitled as promoter, made the reaction faster in presence of single micelle and mixed micelle. The fabrication of mixed micelle was confirmed by UV, 1 H-NMR and 2D NOESY study. The maximum improvement in reaction kinetic was noticed when SDS/TX-100 surfactants mixture introduced along with Bpy promoter.