CONTROLLING FACTORS IN THE RUTHENIUM-CATALYZED OXIDATION OF PRIMARY ALCOHOLS WITH SODIUM-BROMATE

The homogenous transition metal-catalyzed oxidation of alcohols via aldehydes to carboxylic acids has been investigated in detail. Special attention was focussed on the influence of the experimental conditions on the outcome of the reaction. In the oxidation of 1-octanol with sodium bromate and the catalyst rutheniumtrichloride even under mild reaction conditions (at 40-degrees-C for 90 min) there is almost quantitative conversion. By directing the reaction by choice of the amount of the oxidizing agent, either 1-octanal or caprylic acid could be obtained in yields of 90%. Similar results were obtained with longer chain alcohols, demonstrating the general applicability of the approach.