Synthesis of α,β-Diketotriazoles by Aerobic Copper-Catalyzed Oxygenation with Triazole as an Intramolecular Assisting Group

The catalytic oxidation of alpha-ketotriazoles to alpha,beta-diketotriazoles was performed with CuCl2 or CuI/2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline in air at 80 degrees C in good yields. Studies showed that the triazole group participates in complexation to the copper and favors oxidation.