Organocatalytic Oxidation of Secondary Alcohols Using 1,2-Di(1-naphthyl)-1,2-ethanediamine (NEDA) (Eur. J. Org. Chem. 28/2014)

Organocatalytic Oxidation of Secondary Alcohols Using 1,2-Di(1-naphthyl)-1,2-ethanediamine (NEDA)

Diamine, 1,2-di(1-naphthyl)-1,2-ethanediamine (NEDA), efficiently catalyzes the oxidation of alcohols by using TBHP as an oxidant. Notably, secondary benzyl alcohols are oxidized in almost quantitative yields, and the catalyst also displays high activity towards even hindered cycloaliphatic secondary alcohols. With enantiopure (R,R)-NEDA, oxidative kinetic resolution can be realized and depending on the alcohol ee up to 99 % are achieved.