Synergic effect between gold and vanadate substituted hydroxyapatite support for synthesis of methyl methacrylate by one-step oxidative esterification

[Display omitted] •Au/HVP catalyst displays excellent performance for oxidative esterification.•The high selectivity derives from the good capacity of activation of oxygen.•O2 was adsorbed and activated with the synergic effect of gold with the support.•The active sites are located at the interfacial sites between gold and the support. Synthesis of methyl methacrylate (MMA) via direct oxidative esterification from methacrolein (MAL) and methanol (MeOH) is of great significance in chemical industry. Supported gold catalysts are considered as one of the most potential candidates for this reaction but suffer from low activity and deactivation issue. Herein, by modulating the phase structure of hydroxyapatite (HAP) with different cations and anions, a synergic effect between gold and vanadate substituted hydroxyapatite (HVP) support for the synthesis of MMA was discovered. In direct oxidative esterification, among the evaluated catalyst/support systems, Au/HVP catalyst displays the best performance and unprecedented stability, which acts as one of the best-performing gold catalysts for oxidative esterification. Various characterizations such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectra, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM) and in-situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) of CO were conducted to disclose the structural and electronic property of the catalysts. Through in-situ FT-IR spectra of MAL and MeOH, the substrate was proved to be easily transformed on Au/HVP catalyst to ester. Besides, the presence of O2 was found to facilitate the adsorption of MAL. The results of temperature programmed desorption (TPD) of O2 implied that gold particles together with HVP support is promotional for activation and dissociation of oxygen, leading to good activity and high selectivity.