Clean and highly selective oxidation of alcohols by the Phl(OAc) 2/Mn(TPP)CN/lm catalytic system

Abstract

An efficient method for the oxidation of alcohols is presented. Using catalytic amounts of manganese porphyrin [Mn(TPP)CN] in combination with (diacetoxyiodo)benzene (Phl(OAc)2) allows the conversion of benzylic and primary aliphatic and aromatic alcohols into the corresponding aldehydes, and secondary alcohols to ketones as the sole products. This method provides a cost-effective and environmentally friendly oxidation procedure due to the utilisation of less toxic Phl(OAc)2 and biologically relevant manganese porphyrins. The amounts of the products (%) and the selectivities are very dependent upon the nature of the metalloporphyrin catalysts and also upon the electronic and steric properties of the starting alcohols.