Vanadium-catalyzed oxidative aromatization of 2-cyclohexenones under molecular oxygen

An efficient catalytic oxidative aromatization of 2-cyclohexenones was achieved by a combination of a commercially available inexpensive ligand-free vanadium catalyst, a bromide source, and an acid under atmospheric oxygen to afford the corresponding phenol derivatives. This catalytic oxidative aromatization proceeded even under air. Furthermore, a gram-scale reaction was performed successfully. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.