Selective aerobic oxidation of alcohols to aldehydes, carboxylic acids, and imines catalyzed by a Ag-NHC complex.

Silver NHC catalysts have been developed for the selective oxidation of alcohols to aldehydes or carboxylic acids in the presence of BnMe3NOH or KOH under dry air. The aerobic oxidation conditions are mild, and the yield is excellent. Further tandem catalysis enables the one-pot synthesis of imines in excellent yield. Only 0.1 mol % of the catalyst is required.