Abstract
Methyleugenol 1a was oxidized to give 3,4-dimethoxyphenylacet-aldehyde by the oxidative system containing the RuCl3-NaIO4-phase transfer catalyst. The yield and spectroscopic properties were obtained from the stable acetaldoxim 3a. Furthermore, this oxidation system could be applied to other arylpropenes, thus, safrole, 4-methoxyallylbenzene, allylbenzene, and the corresponding arylacetaldehyde formed.