Iron-Catalyzed Aerobic Oxidation of Allylic Alcohols: The Issue of C═C Bond Isomerization

An aerobic oxidation of allylic alcohols using Fe(NO3)3·9H2O/TEMPO/NaCl as catalysts under atmospheric pressure of oxygen at room temperature was developed. This eco-friendly and mild protocol provides a convenient pathway to the synthesis of stereodefined α,β-unsaturated enals or enones with the retention of the C-C double-bond configuration.