Synlett 2007(7): 1118-1120  
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-973903
LETTER
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Facile and Selective Oxidation of Benzylic Alcohols to Their Corresponding Carbonyl Compounds with Sodium Nitrate in the Presence of Brønsted Acidic Ionic Liquids

Abdol R. Hajipour*a,b, F. Rafieea, A. E. Ruohob
a Pharmaceutical Research Laboratory, College of Chemistry, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan 84156, Iran
b Department of Pharmacology, University of Wisconsin Medical School, 1300 University Avenue, Madison, WI 53706-1532, USA
e-Mail: haji@cc.iut.ac.ir;
Further Information

Publication History

Received 2 January 2007
Publication Date:
13 April 2007 (online)

Abstract

A chemoselective and effective procedure for the conversion of benzylic and allylic alcohols into the corresponding ­carbonyl compounds using sodium nitrate-3-methylimidazolinium hydrogensulfate is reported.

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Preparation of [Hmim]+HSO4 -: 1-methylimidazole (0.82 g, 0.01 mol) was placed in a two-necked flask with stirrer and was cooled to 0 °C. MeCN (10 mL) was added and then H2SO4 (0.98 g, 0.01 mol) was added slowly with stirring. The mixture was stirred for 30 min and the MeCN was removed by simple decanting.

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General procedure: In a mortar a mixture of benzylic alcohol (1.0 mmol), sodium nitrate (0.085 g, 1.0 mmol), and [Hmim]+HSO4 - (0.25 mmol) was ground with a pestle. The reaction times and temperatures are shown in Table [1] . After completion of the reaction (monitored by TLC, EtOAc-cyclohexane, 25:75), the mixture was cooled to r.t., extracted into Et2O and washed with H2O. The organic layer was dried over Na2SO4 and evaporated under reduced pressure. Purification of the residue using flash column chromatography (silica gel, EtOAc-cyclohexane, 20:80) provided the pure carbonyl compounds.