Hybrid-type Oxidizing Catalyst Using Peracetic Acid as a Co-oxidizing Agent

Yakura et al. have reported the synthesis of a new organic hybrid-type catalyst 4-[2-[2-(4-iodophenoxy)ethoxy]carbonyl]benzoyloxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidin-1-oxyl (1) and its use for the oxidation reaction of primary alcohols. 1 consists of a 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine 1-oxyl (TEMPO) group and an iodophenyl group bound together by a covalent bond with the TEMPO moiety of it acting as a oxidizing catalyst of alcohols while the iodophenyl moiety of it also acts as a precursor of an iodobenzenediacetate oxidizing agent. Because of this structure, primary alcohols are oxidized to the corresponding carboxylic acids by the addition of a catalytic amount of 1 with the co-oxidant of peracetic acid. This oxidative reaction is environmentally benign because peracetic acid is transformed into acetic acid after completion of the oxidation.