An Unexpected Controlled New Oxidant: So 4.

Abstract

A controlled new oxidant sulfate radical anion (SO 4.-) was found and it can be easily prepared by mixing Na 2 S 2 O 4 and TBHP with stirring. In this new metal-free oxidation system (Na 2 S 2 O 4 /TBHP), SO 4.-can be used as a controllable oxidant to oxidize various aromatic alcohols to the corresponding aldehydes in good yields without any acid formation at room temperature. SO 4.-was determined by a DMPO (5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide) spin-Trapping EPR method at room temperature on a Bruker E500 spectrometer and the results suggested that SO 4.-was generated in this transformation.