Highly efficient alcohol oxidation catalyzed by palladium(II)-alkylamine complexes using atmospheric molecular oxygen

Two series of palladium(II)-alkylamine (Pd(Me(2)NCn)(2)(OAc)(2), Me(2)NCn: N,N'-dimethylalkylamine, n = 4, 8, 12, and 16) and palladium(II) N,N'-dialkylamine (Pd(Cn(2)NH)(2)(OAc)(2), Cn(2)NH: N,N'-dialkylamine, n=4,8, and 12) were prepared. These homogeneous Pd complexes catalyzed the aerobic oxidation of wide range of alcohols into the corresponding aldehydes and ketones efficiently. For example, a benzylalcohol oxidation proceeded rapidly by means of Pd(Me(2)NCl2)(2)(OAc)(2) with an excellent turnover frequency of up to 96 h(-1). (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.