Redox-mediated oxidation of alcohols using Cl− /OCl− redox couple in biphasic media

The electrochemical oxidation of benzyl and substituted benzyl alcohols including primary and secondary alcohols and piperonyl alcohol was carried out in an undivided cell using platinum electrodes in a biphasic medium using Cl−/OCl− as the redox mediator. In most cases, selective oxidation of alcohols to the corresponding aldehydes or ketones was achieved with high yields of products by the in situ generated chloronium ion. This method is simple and gives better yields of products compared with chemical methods of oxidation. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.