Aryl carbonyl compounds including acetophenones, benzophenones, imides, and benzoic
acids are prepared from benzyl substrates using potassium persulfate as oxidant with
catalytic pyridine in acetonitrile under mild conditions. Neither transition metals
nor halogens are involved in the reactions.
Key words
potassium persulfate - oxidation - transition-metal-free - halogen-free - benzylic
sp
3 C–H bond