Transformations of C₂-C₄ alcohols on the surface of a copper catalyst

The interaction of monoatomic alcohols C₂-C₄ with the surface of a copper catalyst preliminarily oxidized under various conditions was studied by the temperature-programmed reaction method to determine the detailed mechanism of partial oxidation. The conditions of oxygen preadsorption on the surface of copper for the preparation of the desired products were determined. The selective formation of carbonyl compounds was shown to occur at the boundary between reduced and oxidized copper surface regions. The role played by Cu₂O was the deep oxidation of alcohols to CO₂. Alcohols with branched hydrocarbon structures experienced parallel partial oxidation and dehydrogenation, which was related to the high stability of intermediate keto-type compounds.