The Use of Molecular Oxygen in Organic Synthesis

Introduction

The use of molecular oxygen for transformation of organic compounds is an attractive and challenging research subject which is especially interesting for industrial application. Molecular oxygen is inexpensive, readily available and ultimately produces benign byproducts such as water. The development of efficient protocols using O₂ as an oxidant is a subject of great importance also from the viewpoint of green approach to organic synthesis. Transformations of organic compounds with O₂ need catalysis in order to promote both the rate of reaction and the selectivity to partial oxidation products. The catalysts are usually transition metals, often as organometallic complexes [1] or as solid-supported species, [2] while NaNO₂ as non-metal catalyst for aerobic transformation of organic compounds was recently promoted. [3] From the green chemistry point of view the ideal system for oxidation is the use of O₂ together with a reusable catalyst in a non-toxic and non-volatile medium like water or ionic liquids or even under solvent-free conditions. [4]

The present spotlight emphasises recent developments in the use of molecular oxygen for oxidation of benzene and its alkyl-substituted derivatives, alkenes, alcohols, sulphides and amines; special attention was also devoted to its application in oxidative halogenation of organic compounds.

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