Selective oxidation of alcohols with alkali metal bromides as bromide catalysts: experimental study of the reaction mechanism.

A bromide-catalyzed oxidation of alcohols was developed which proceeded in the presence of an alkali metal bromide and an oxidant under mild conditions. The reaction involved an organic-molecule-free oxidation using KBr and Oxone and a Brønsted acid assisted oxidation using KBr and aqueous H2O2 solution to provide a broad range of carbonyl compounds in high yields. Moreover, the bromide-catalyzed oxidation of primary alcohols enabled the divergent synthesis of carboxylic acids and aldehydes under both reaction conditions in the presence of TEMPO. A possible catalytic mechanism was suggested on the basis of various mechanistic studies.