Efficient and convenient oxidation of alcohols to aldehydes and ketones with molecular oxygen mediated by In(NO3)3 in ionic liquid [C12mim][FeBr4].

A simple, efficient, and ecofriendly procedure for the aerobic oxidation of alcohols to aldehydes and ketones in the presence of In(NO 3 ) 3 /[C 12 mim][FeBr 4 ] in aqueous media has been developed. The oxidation reactions afford the target products in good to high yields and no over-oxidation was observed. The products can be separated by a simple extraction with dichloromethane, and the system can be recycled and reused without loss of activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]