Oxidation of Benzylic and Aliphatic Secondary Alcohols to Carbonyl Compounds with KBrO3/CeCl3+7H2O System in Wet CH3CN

Abstract

Potassium bromate in presence of CeCl₃·7H₂O effectively oxidizes benzylic and aliphatic secondary alcohols to the corresponding carbonyl compounds i.e., primary alcohols selectively to aldehydes and secondary ones to ketones. The reactions are carried out in refluxing wet CH₃CN within 1.5-8.0 h. This oxidation system is quite ineffective for the oxidation of aliphatic primary alcohols. The chemoselective oxidation of benzylic or aliphatic secondary alcohols over aliphatic primary alcohols is achieved perfectly with KBrO₃/CeCl₃·7H₂O system.