Synfacts 2009(4): 0428-0428  
DOI: 10.1055/s-0028-1087826
Metal-Mediated Synthesis
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart ˙ New York

ZnBr2-Catalyzed Oxidation of Alcohols by Diethyl Azodicarboxylate

Contributor(s): Paul Knochel, Andrei Gavryushin
H. T. Cao, R. Grée*
Université de Rennes, France
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
23 March 2009 (online)

Significance

This is a simple and versatile method for the oxidation of primary and secondary alcohols to the corresponding carbonyl compounds. The oxidant diethyl azodicarboxylate (DEAD) is relatively inexpensive and commercially available. The only side product, diethyl hydrazo­dicarboxylate, is very readily separable from other reaction products due to its high polarity and can be easily reoxidized to DEAD.