Metal‐Free Oxidation of Glycerol over Nitrogen‐Containing Carbon Nanotubes

Nitrogen rich carbon nanotubes have been used as a metal free catalyst for the conversion of glycerol into dihydroxyacetone using tert‐butyl hydroperoxide as an oxidant. Pyridine nitrogen groups embedded in a carbon matrix are identified as active sites for the reaction. Computational studies have demonstrated that oxidation of pyridine groups to pyridine oxime followed by hydrogen ion from secondary alcohol is likely responsible for the oxidation process. NCNTs are friends indeed: A green process for the oxidation of glycerol to value‐added dihydroxyacetone is developed using nitrogen‐rich carbon nanotubes (NCNTs) as a metal‐free catalyst and tert‐butyl hydroperoxide as the oxidant. Computational studies combined with experimental results have revealed the role of pyridinic sites for the conversion process. The results implicate a viable metal‐free catalyst for biomass‐derived glycerol.