Selective oxidation of unsaturated alcohols catalyzed by sodium nitrite and 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone with molecular oxygen under mild conditions.

We have developed a simple and practical process for the oxidation of alcohols to the corresponding carbonyl compounds by using a low catalytic amount of DDQ, NaNO(2) as a cocatalyst, and molecular oxygen as terminal oxidant. Nitric oxide generated in situ by NaNO(2) in the presence of AcOH is essential for the realization of the catalytic cycle at room temperature. The practical utility of this catalytic process has been demonstrated in the gram-scale oxidation of cinnamyl alcohol.