Polyethylene glycol radical-initiated oxidation of benzylic alcohols in compressed carbon dioxide

Wang, Jin-Quan; He, Liang-Nian; Miao, Cheng-Xia

Polyethylene glycol radical-initiated oxidation of benzylic alcohols in compressed carbon dioxide

2009

Wang, Jin-Quan | He, Liang-Nian | Miao, Cheng-Xia

The PEG radical from oxidative degradation of polyethylene glycol was first used to initiate the oxidation of benzylic alcohols to carbonyl compounds without the need of a catalyst and/or additive in a viable synthetic, cost-effective and environmentally benign way, in which PEG/O₂/CO₂ acts as initiator, oxidant and solvent. Compressed CO₂ in this study not only provides a safe environment to conduct the oxidation employing molecular oxygen as an oxidant, but also could improve the reaction and adjust the selectivity of the target product by altering CO₂ pressure. Moreover, this methodology could be used to oxidize a set of benzyl alcohols. The findings introduced here provide useful examples for developing free-radical chemistry from PEG thermal oxidative degradation.

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