A catalytic process for the selective oxidation of alcohols by copper (II) complexes

Abstract

Novel copper (II)-N-(2-pyridyl)-N'-(5-R-salicylidene) hydrazine triphenylphosphine complexes have been synthesized and characterized. The complexes were effective in the catalytic oxidation of primary and secondary alcohols in presence of periodic acid (H<inf>5</inf>IO<inf>6</inf>) as oxidant. The oxidation reactions were carried out in acetonitrile. Electrochemical electron transfer study reveals CuII-CuI reduction in methanolic solutions. A mechanistic study of the above reactions has been proposed. © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.