Chemistry: A European Journal 2010-06-18

Rapid and selective catalytic oxidation of secondary alcohols at room temperature by using (N-heterocyclic carbene)-ni(0) systems.

Christophe Berini, Ole H Winkelmann, Jennifer Otten, David A Vicic, Oscar Navarro

Index: Chemistry 16(23) , 6857-60, (2010)

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Abstract

The selective, anaerobic catalytic oxidation of secondary alcohols at room temperature by using an in situ (N-heterocyclic carbene)-Ni(0) system is presented. The use of non-anhydrous, non-degassed 2,4-dichlorotoluene as both the oxidant and the solvent allows for very short reaction times and very high yields. In addition, a well-defined (N-heterocyclic carbene)-Ni(0) complex was synthesized and applied to these oxidation reactions.