Benzyl esters are formed catalytically at moderate temperatures from alkyl benzenes by KBrO 3 in the presence of cerium ammonium nitrate (CAN). Toluene gives in acetic acid benzyl acetate. Ethylbenzene, cumene, 4- tert-butyltoluene, and 4-bromotoluene give similar oxidation products. p-xylene undergoes a selective mono-acetoxylation reaction in acetic acid. The bromate salt is acting as an oxidant for the alkylbenzene and a cooxidant for the Ce salt. The Ce salts (Ce(III), Ce(IV)) serve both as oxidation catalysts and as Lewis acids that catalyze the conversion of benzyl bromide in the reaction mixture to benzyl ester.