Iodine(III)-catalyzed benzylic oxidation by using the (PhIO)_n/Al(NO₃)₃ system

Abstract

The first iodine(III)-based procedure for the benzylic oxidation of different arenes is described by using the (PhIO)_n/Al(NO₃)₃ system under catalytic conditions leading to the formation of the corresponding carbonyl derivatives. The method proceeds under mild, operationally simple, room temperature, short reaction times, and open flask conditions. In light of the organocatalysis relevance and the novelty of our protocol, we wish to communicate our initial results of this novel oxidation.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

Keywords:

• Benzylic oxidation
• C_sp ³-H activation
• iodine(III)-catalysis
• organocatalyst

Acknowledgments

We acknowledge the facilities of the DCNyE, the Chemistry Department, the National Laboratory UG-CONACyT (LACAPFEM) at the University of Guanajuato, the Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Sciences at Kyoto University and the laboratories of Prof. K. Maruoka for full characterization. We also thank CONACyT for a fellowship to K.A.J.O.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare no competing financial interest.

Additional information

Funding

This work was partially supported by CONACyT [CB-2013/220836] and a JSPS KAKENHI grant [JP26220803 and JP17H06450 hybrid catalysis].