Functionalised carbon nanotube (CNT)-supported Au–Pd alloy nanoparticles were highly efficient catalysts for the aerobic oxidation of amines. We achieved the highest turnover frequencies (>1000 h−1) for the oxidative homocoupling of benzylamine and the oxidative dehydrogenation of dibenzylamine. We discovered a cooperative effect between Au–Pd nanoparticles and ketone/quinone groups on CNTs.
