Highly selective oxidation of unsaturated hydrocarbons to carbonyl compounds by two-phase catalysis

An efficient method for selective oxidation of unsaturated hydrocarbons to carbonyl compounds was established by using oxidant [bis(acetoxy)iodo]benene and catalyst ruthenium trichloride (0.1 mol %) in a CH2Cl2/H2O two phase system at 30 degrees C. Both aromatic and aliphatic olefins could be oxidized via direct carbon-carbon bond cleavage to the corresponding aryl or alkyl aldehydes with good selectivity (up to 100%). Further, diketone could be obtained from alkyne in high yields with this method. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.