Highly efficient and selective aerobic oxidation of alcohols in aqueous media by TEMPO-containing catalytic systems

Abstract

The use of molecular oxygen as the oxidant and water as reaction medium is a charming research orientation in the oxidation of alcohols. In this communication, the efficient aerobic oxidation of alcohols to the corresponding carbonyl compounds in aqueous media has been achieved with TEMPO-containing catalytic systems. In the absence of base/acid, a 99% conversion and 94% selectivity for benzaldehyde were obtained for the oxidation of benzyl alcohol by TEMPO–Ce(IV)–NaNO2 in water. Moreover, the effects of quaternary ammonium salts and anionic surfactants were investigated. The aerobic selective oxidation of different non-heterocyclic alcohols in aqueous media was further investigated, and the moderate to high yields (45.5–98.0%) of products were obtained.