Various imidazolium salts bearing hydrophilic groups were prepared that reacted with
copper powder to afford water-soluble copper complexes of N-heterocyclic carbenes.
These copper complexes can catalyze the selective oxidation of benzyl alcohols to
the corresponding aldehydes in water at room temperature without the need for a base.
Key words
copper catalysis - aerobic oxidation - benzylic alcohols - aqueous phase