LETTER	Synlett 2007: 0095-0098   DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-956457
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York
Environmentally Benign Oxidation Reaction of Benzylic and Allylic Alcohols to Carbonyl Compounds Using Pd/C with Sodium Borohydride
Gwangil Ana, Minkyung Limb, Kwon-Soo Chuna, Hakjune Rhee*b
a Radiopharmaceuticals Laboratory, Korea Institute of Radiological & Medical Sciences, Nowon-Gu, Gongneung-Dong 2154, Seoul 139-706, Korea b Department of Chemistry and Applied Chemistry, Hanyang University, Ansan Sa 1-Dong 1271, Kyunggi-Do 426-791, Korea Fax: +82(31)4073863; e-Mail: hrhee@hanyang.ac.kr;
Received 19 September 2006

Abstract

Pd/C catalyst in aqueous alcohol with molecular oxygen, sodium borohydride, and potassium carbonate efficiently oxidized benzylic and allylic alcohols. The use of a reducing reagent, sodium borohydride, for the reactivation of active sites of the Pd surface proved to be remarkable. The utilization of room temperature reaction condition and aqueous alcohol solvent as well as the recyclability of Pd/C makes this manipulation very interesting from an economic and environmental perspective.

Key word

palladium - oxidations - alcohols - sodium borohydride - oxygen