Aerobic Lactonization of Diols by Biomimetic Oxidation

Abstract

Coming up for air: Highly efficient aerobic lactonization can be carried out by a biomimetic oxidation system based on coupled redox catalysts (ruthenium catalyst and electron transfer mediators). This system leads to a low-energy electron transfer from diol to molecular oxygen. Various diols were aerobically oxidized to the corresponding five- to nine-membered lactones in good to high yields under mild reaction conditions (see scheme).