The anodic oxidation of species possessing potentially oxidisable functionalities has been studied on a non conventional electrode system based on a Ti substrate partially coated by electrodeposited Au nanoparticles. The results show that the electrocatalytic behaviour of the Au nanoparticles, in the frame of such a bimetallic system, is very different from that of pure Au. In particular, catalytic synergy between Au and Ti leads to the electro-oxidation of aldoses and aldehydes, while ketoses and monohydric alcohols result electrochemically inert. A different behaviour has been observed in the case of bulk Au surface: all the species under investigation undergo oxidation, so that no selectivity is activated. A correlation is found between the actual electroactivity and the nature of the functional group, when considered together with the chemical structure of the molecule. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.