Novel feature and catalysis of metal oxide supported gold nanoparticles

Gold nanoparticles are drawing great attention because of its interesting properties. Although a bulk gold is chemically inert, a nano-sized particles shows completely different characteristics. Therefore, applications of gold nanoparticles for organic transformations are wide-spreading in recent years. We have developed several organic reactions employing metal oxide supported gold nanoparticles. In these reactions, the catalysis are assumed not only by gold nanoparticles but an active species formed from oxide support depending on the reaction conditions. This phenomenon expands the capability of metal oxide supported gold nanoparticles since the catalysis can be modulated by employing a proper metal oxide support.