Facile synthesis of polystyrene/gold composite particles as a highly active and reusable catalyst for aerobic oxidation of benzyl alcohol in water

PS/Au composite particles have been synthesized facilely based on a thermodynamic effect. More significantly, the PS/Au composite particles can catalyze the aerobic oxidation of benzyl alcohol remarkably under mild conditions (1 atm, air as oxidant, K2CO3, 30 °C, in water) and be reused several times without significant loss of activity.