SBA-15-functionalized TEMPO confined ionic liquid: an efficient catalyst system for transition-metal-free aerobic oxidation of alcohols with improved selectivity.

A novel SBA-15-functionalized TEMPO confined ionic liquid [BMIm]Br was found to be a highly efficient and recyclable catalyst system for the transition-metal-free aerobic oxidation of a wide range of structurally diverse alcohols. Thanks to the strong physical confinement of the ionic liquid inside the mesochannels of SBA-15-supported TEMPO, the resulting solid catalyst showed improved selectivity in the aerobic oxidation of allylic alcohols. The catalyst can be recovered and re-used for at least 11 reaction runs without significant loss of either activity or confined IL.