Transition Metal-Catalyzed C-H Oxidation of Saturated Hydrocarbons with Molecular Oxygen.

The C-H oxidation of saturated hydrocarbons to the corresponding alcohols and ketones can be performed efficiently at room temperature with molecular oxygen (1 atm) in the presence of acetaldehyde and catalysts such as Fe, Cu(OH)2 , and CuCl2 -18-crown-6 complex. Moreover, extremely high turnover numbers (>27,000) have been obtained for the C-H oxidation of saturated hydrocarbons with molecular oxygen (1 atm) using a combination of Cu(OAc)2 and acetonitrile at 70 °C. Related oxidation reactions such as epoxidation, Baeyer-Villiger reaction, acetoxylation of β-lactams with molecular oxygen and a suitable aldehyde at room temperature are described.