Oxone/Sodium Chloride: A Simple and Efficient Catalytic System for the Oxidation of Alcohols to Symmetric Esters and Ketones

Abstract

An efficient method for the oxidation of alcohols is presented. The use of catalytic amounts of sodium chloride in combination with oxone allows the conversion primary aliphatic alcohols to symmetric esters. Secondary alcohols can be easily oxidized to ketones, and benzylic alcohols are converted to the corresponding aldehydes. The method is cost effective and enviromentally benign.

Keywords:

• Alcohols
• aldehydes
• catalytic oxidation
• esterification
• ketones

Acknowledgments

A. Schulze is grateful for grants from the Graduiertenkolleg Mechanistische und Anwendungsaspekte nicht‐konventioneller Oxidationsreaktionen. G. Pagona is grateful for a grant from European Union under the auspices of the Socrates Exchange Program.