A Simple, Mild and Efficient Oxidation of Benzylic Alcohols in the Presence of NBS/KOAc in Aqueous Solution

Background: The oxidation of benzylic alcohols to carbonyl compounds is a fundamental reaction in organic synthesis. In traditional oxidation processes, a large amount of toxic and volatile organic solvents and metal oxidants are used. Thus, developing environmentally benign oxidation processes is an important goal. N-Bromosuccinimide (NBS) is an inexpensive and convenient oxidant widely used in a variety of oxidative reactions under acidic or alkaline conditions. Keywords: Benzylic alcohols, KOAc, N-bromosuccinimide, oxidation, selectively, water.