A metal-free catalytic system for the oxidation of benzylic methylenes and primary amines under solvent-free conditions

Abstract

Iodine–pyridine–tert-butylhydroperoxide is developed as a green and efficient catalytic system for the oxidation of benzylic methylenes to ketones and primary amines to nitriles. The reaction conditions are quite mild and environmentally benign, no transition metals, organic solvents or hazard reagents being needed. The oxidation of benzylic methylenes gave the corresponding ketones in excellent yields with complete chemoselectivity, while the oxidation of primary amines was complete in several minutes, affording various nitriles in moderate to good yields.