Trichloroisocyanuric/TEMPO oxidation of alcohols under mild conditions: a close investigation.

Efficient oxidation of primary alcohols to the corresponding carboxylic acids can be carried out at room temperature and in acetone/water, using trichloroisocyanuric acid (TCCA) in the presence of catalytic TEMPO. The mild conditions of this procedure and the total absence of any transition metal make this reaction suitable for safe laboratory use. A possible mechanism is presented and discussed.