Synlett 2005(13): 2039-2042  
DOI: 10.1055/s-2005-871955
LETTER
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Molecular Iodine as Efficient Co-Catalyst for Facile Oxidation of Alcohols with Hypervalent(III) Iodine

N. N. Karade*, G. B. Tiwari, D. B. Huple
School of Chemical Sciences, Swami Ramanand Teerth Marathwada University, Nanded - 431606, Maharashtra, India
Fax: +91(2462)229245; e-Mail: nnkarade@rediffmail.com;
Further Information

Publication History

Received 21 April 2005
Publication Date:
20 July 2005 (online)

Abstract

A simple and mild procedure for the facile oxidation of alcohols to ketones and acids using a catalytic quantity of molecular iodine in combination with (diacetoxyiodo)benzene in acetonitrile is described. Direct oxidative methyl esterification of alcohols is also reported in methanol as solvent. Oxidation of alcohols is induced by iodonium ion generated in situ by the chemical oxidation of molecular iodine with (diacetoxyiodo)benzene.

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Experimental Procedure. To a magnetically stirred solution of alcohol (1 mmol), iodine (0.1 mmol) in MeCN (15 mL) was added(diacetoxyiodo)benzene (1.1 mmol). The resulting red brown solution was stirred in an open vessel for the time as mentioned in Table [1] . The progress of the reaction was monitored by TLC. After completion of reaction, the mixture was washed with Na2S2O3 and extracted with CH2Cl2 (2 × 10 mL). The organic extract was dried over anhyd Na2SO4. Removal of the solvent and subsequent silica gel chromatography (petroleum ether and EtOAc) afforded the corresponding carbonyl compounds in the pure form.

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The experimental procedure for the oxidative esterification is similar to that mentioned above except the use of alcohol as solvent in place of acetonitrile.