Catalytic Oxidation of Alcohols: A Review from the Perspective of Green Chemistry.

The oxidation of alcohols to carbonyl compounds is one of the most developed and investigated reactions in organic synthesis due to its easiness of conduct and the usefulness of its products. However, most current systems of oxidizing alcohols require stoichiometric oxidants that create large amounts of waste harmful to the environment. Thus, finding suitable catalytic systems for the specialized oxidation of different alcohols is desirable. This review critically examines various catalysts utilized in the catalytic oxidation of alcohols to carbonyl compounds within the framework of green chemistry. In short, traditional transition metal-based catalysts find their use in oxidizing various benzylic alcohols; TEMPO-based catalysts can be used for selective oxidation of primary alcohols to aldehydes or carboxylic acids under different conditions; biological enzymes apply to natural chemicals such as saccharides; and heterogeneous catalysts are recommended when dealing with reactive substrates in large scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]