Oxidation of Alcohols Catalyzed by Ruthenium Complexes with Iodosylbenzene as Oxidant

Five ruthenium complexes such as Phen-Ru-Phen, Phen-Ru-Bipy, Phen-Ru-Quin,Quin-Ru-Quin and Bipy-Ru-Quin (where Phen=1, 10-phenanthroline, Quin=8-hydroxyquinoline,Bipy=2, 2′-bipyridine) were synthesized and used as catalysts for the oxidation of benzylic and primary aliphatic alcohols with iodosylbenzene as oxidant. The oxidations were carried out at room temperature, affording the corresponding aldehydes and ketones with high selectivity.