Palladium(II)-catalysed oxidation of alcohols under an oxygen atmosphere in a fluorous biphase system (FBS)

Palladium(II) acetate catalyses the aerobic oxidation of alcohols into the corresponding aldehydes and ketones in the presence of a catalytic amount of a novel perfluoroalkylated-pyridine as a ligand using molecular oxygen in a fluorous biphase system (FBS) composed of toluene and perfluorodecalin. This catalytic system is applicable to various benzylic and aliphatic alcohols. The fluorous phase containing the active palladium species is easily separated and can be reused several times without a significant loss of catalytic activity.