A chemoselective aerobic oxidation of benzylic azides catalyzed by molybdenum xanthate in an aqueous medium

A mild molybdenum-catalyzed, aerobic, chemoselective oxidation of benzylic azides to the corresponding aldehydes in an aqueous medium that tolerates a variety of functional groups including alcohols, esters, ketones, halides and olefins is described. (c) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.