Direct Aerobic α-Hydroxylation of Arylacetates for the Synthesis of Mandelates

Aerobic alpha-hydroxylation of alpha-methylene esters has proven challenging due to overoxidation and hydrolysis of the materials. In this article, (KOBu)-Bu-t-promoted TBAB-catalyzed alpha-hydroxylation of alpha-methylene aryl esters using O-2 as the oxygen source has been developed. Both low reaction temperature and catalyst TBAB are keys to success. This reaction provides an environmentally friendly and low-cost approach to mandelates, which are valuable building blocks and widely present in pharmaceuticals.

Automated summary

In this article, a (KOBu)-Bu-t-promoted TBAB-catalyzed alpha-hydroxylation reaction of alpha-methylene aryl esters using O-2 as the oxygen source has been developed. This environmentally friendly and low-cost approach provides a synthesis method for mandelates, which are valuable building blocks widely used in pharmaceuticals.