Highly Efficient Oxidation of Secondary Alcohols to Ketones Catalyzed by Manganese Complexes of N4 Ligands with H2O2

The manganese complex Mn(S-PMB)(CF3SO3)(2) was proven to be highly efficient in the catalytic oxidation of several benzylic and aliphatic secondary alcohols with H2O2 as the oxidant and acetic acid as the additive. A maximum turnover number of 4700 was achieved in the alcohol oxidation. In addition, the Hammett analysis unveiled the electrophilic nature of this manganese catalyst with N-4 ligand.