A reasonable explanation for the mechanism of photo-promoted chemoselective aerobic oxidation of alcohols using (ON)Ru(salen) complex as catalyst

The mechanism of aerobic oxidation of alcohols using (ON)Ru(salen) complex as catalyst under photo-irradiation was examined through studies of kinetics of the oxidation, kinetic isotope effect in the oxidation, and effect of the ligand structure on the chemoselectivity of the oxidation of primary and secondary alcohols. It was demonstrated that the aerobic oxidation includes an intramolecular hydrogen atom transfer process that is attributed to realization of efficient differentiation of primary and secondary alcohols in the oxidation.