N-Heterocyclic Carbene Catalyzed Oxidation of Aldehydes Using CO₂ as Oxidant

Significance

An organocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide to form carbon monoxide has been reported. N-Heterocyclic carbenes were found to effect this transformation in which aromatic aldehydes are oxidized to the corresponding acids. Using catalyst 1 various aromatic aldehydes and cinnamaldehyde derivatives could be oxidized to carboxylic acids in high yields under mild reaction conditions.