An eco-friendly Co(OAc)2-catalyzed aerobic oxidation of 4-benzylphenols into 4-hydroxybenzophenones

An undecorated Co(OAc)2-catalyzed aerobic oxidation system has been reported that enables direct transformation of 4-benzylphenols into the corresponding 4-hydroxybenzophenones. The procedure is especially suitable for electron-withdrawing group-containing substrates, which are commonly inefficient to conduct this category of oxidation. Based on well-defined p-benzoquinone methides and the confirmed ethereal intermediate, a plausible mechanism was depicted.