SIMPLE, COPPER(I)-CATALYZED OXIDATION OF BENZYLIC/ALLYLIC ALCOHOLS TO CARBONYL COMPOUNDS: SYNTHESIS OF FUNCTIONALIZED CINNAMATES IN ONE POT

摘要

An environmentally benign [Cu(I)]-catalyzed oxidation of activated (benzylic/allylic) alcohols to the corresponding carbonyl compounds is presented. Interestingly, the reaction was also compatible with benzylic alcohols containing ortho-bromo substituents on the aromatic ring without competing with the expected intermolecular Buchwald coupling. Significantly, the catalytic system enables the synthesis of cinnamate-esters in a sequential domino one-pot fashion via oxidation followed by Wittig-Horner protocol.