Copper(II)-catalysed aerobic oxidation of primary alcohols to aldehydes

[CuBr2(2,2'-bipyridine)] catalyses the selective and very mild aerobic oxidation of primary alcohols to aldehydes in acetonitrile : water (2 : 1) in the presence of 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidinyl-1-oxy (TEMPO) and a base as cocatalysts.