Chemoselective C−H Oxidation of Alcohols to Carbonyl Compounds with Iodosobenzene Catalyzed by (Salen)chromium Complex

Abstract

Primary and secondary alcohols with benzylically and allylically activated C-H bonds are chemoselectively oxidized to the corresponding carbonyl compounds by the (salen)Cr(III) complex I as the catalyst and iodosobenzene as the oxygen source; the oxidizing species is the Cr(V) oxo complex. Allylic alcohols with fully substituted double bonds give appreciable amounts of epoxides besides the C-H oxidation products enones, while saturated alcohols are less readily oxidized.