A remarkable effect of ionic liquids in transition-metal-free aerobic oxidation of benzylic alcohols

Aerobic α-hydroxylation of 2-Me-1-tetralone in 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium ionic liquids

The aerobic α-hydroxylation of 2-Me-1-tetralone was investigated in imidazol-based ionic liquids (ILs), where reactions in 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborates were found to generate considerable products. By correlating the conversion at 2 h with viscosity, relative permittivity and the ET(30) value of ILs, we found that the local polarity in ILs represented by the ET(30) value or the chemical shift of α-proton at the substrate was the critical factor influencing the reaction rate. Furthermore, two-dimensional nuclear Overhauser effect spectroscopy (2D NOESY) was used to characterize the distribution of 2-Me-1-tetralone in ILs. As a result, the mesoscopic structures in ILs were recommended to have crucial influences on the distribution of the substrate in ILs, and the caused local polarity could affect the activation of 2-Me-1-tetralone. These findings revealed the solvent effects of ILs with different structures on the α-hydroxylation of 2-Me-1-tetralone, and may encourage the explorations of more types of aerobic oxidations in ILs.

An efficient approach for enhancing the catalytic activity of Ni-MOF-74 via a relay catalyst system for the selective oxidation of benzylic C–H bonds under mild conditions

A facile and efficient approach for enhancing the catalytic activity of Ni-MOF-74 via a relay catalysis strategy with [bmim]Br was developed, which is excellent for the selective oxidation of benzylic C–H bond under mild conditions.

A novel nickel-catalyzed synthesis of thioesters, esters and amides from aryl iodides in the presence of chromium hexacarbonyl

Aryl iodides undergo NiCl₂-catalyzed carbon–heteroatom bond formation and carbonyl group insertion using thiol, alcohol, and amine nucleophiles with Cr(CO)₆.

Transition metal-free oxidative esterification of benzylic alcohols in aqueous medium

Oxidative esterification of benzylic alcohols with a catalytic amount of HBr-H2O2 in aqueous medium under mild conditions is reported with a wide range of substrate scope for both benzylic and aliphatic alcohols. The conditions are also suitable for selective mono-esterification of ethylene glycol and glycerol. With catalytic amounts of HBr (20 mol%) and H2O2, the generation of reactive intermediate species BrOH has been ascertained by UV-visible spectra.

NHC-catalyzed one-pot oxidation and oxidative esterification of allylic alcohols using TEMPO: the effect of alcohol additives

A combination of N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) catalysts and 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-N-oxyl (TEMPO) was proposed for the synthesis of allylic esters from allylic alcohols.