Catalytic Processes of Oxidation by Hydrogen Peroxide in the Presence of Br2 or HBr. Mechanism and Synthetic Applications

The mechanism and the synthetic applications for the oxidation of alcohols, ethers, and aldehydes by H2O2 catalyzed by Br2 or Br- in a liquid two-phase system (aqueous and organic) are reported. Aliphatic and benzylic primary alcohols and ethers show an opposite behavior, which has been rationalized on the ground of the different electronic configurations of the intermediate alkyl (π-type) and acyl (σ-type) radicals and their influence on enthalpic and polar effects. A two-phase system is particularly useful also for an efficient benzylic bromination by Br2 or Br-; the substitution of the benzyl bromide by OH, OR, and OCOR regenerates Br-, which can be recycled. The evaluation of the relative reactivities of the involved substrates and intermediates has allowed to develop a variety of simple, facile, convenient, and selective syntheses of alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, esters, and benzyl bromides, which fulfill the conditions for practical applications.