Heterogeneous Esterification from α-Hydroxy Ketone and Alcohols through a Tandem Oxidation Process over a Hydrotalcite-Supported Bimetallic Catalyst

Heterogeneous aerobic oxidative esterification between α-hydroxy ketone and alcohols catalyzed by a hydrotalcite-supported bimetallic catalyst (CuMn/HT) using O2 as a green oxidant was achieved. Recyclable CuMn/HT exhibits high catalytic activity due to increased content of oxygen vacancies and a newly generated CuMn2O4 crystal phase. This clean esterification proceeds through a tandem oxidation process in the absence of any additives and ligands and affords α-keto esters in good to excellent yields. Moreover, the catalytic system tolerates complicated bioactive molecules as raw materials and can be performed on a multigram scale.