tert-Butyl Nitrite: Organic Redox Cocatalyst for Aerobic Aldehyde-Selective Wacker-Tsuji Oxidation

An aldehyde-selective aerobic Wacker-Tsuji oxidation is developed. Using tert-butyl nitrite as a simple organic redox cocatalyst instead of copper or silver salts, a variety of aldehydes were achieved as major products in up to 30/1 regioselectivity as well as good to high yields at room temperature.