ABSTRACT
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Selective oxidation reactions are extensively used in the chemical industry to provide many
useful intermediates including monomers, pharmaceuticals, fine chemicals, agrochemicals,
fragrances, and flavorings. These are important reactions, providing a route to functionalize
simple hydrocarbon molecules, to make them more useful. Examples of selective oxidation
products include epoxides, aldehydes, ethers, esters, acids, and alcohols. More than 60% of
the chemicals and intermediates synthesized via catalytic processes are products of oxidation
and account for a net world-worth of US$20 to US$40 billion [1]. In particular, selective
oxidation accounts for more than 20% of the total output of organic chemicals worldwide [2].
