Oxidation of alcohols to carbonyl compounds with molecular iodine in the presence of potassium tert-butoxide

Abstract

An efficient protocol for the oxidation of alcohols to carbonyl compounds with molecular iodine and potassium tert-butoxide is described. Various primary and secondary alcohols were converted to the corresponding aldehydes and ketones in high yields. The oxidation of 2-phenylethanol produced an "abnormal" acetalic ketone. The readily availability of starting materials, convenient synthetic procedure, operational simplicity, mild reaction conditions, and high yields makes this protocol a competitive alternative in the synthesis of ynones and ketones as well as aryl aldehydes. © 2014 ARKAT-USA, Inc.