Oxidation of Alcohols and Hydroquinones to Carbonyl Compounds Using Cetyltrimethylammonium Peroxodisulfate as a New, Selective and Regenerable Oxidant

Cetyltrimethylammonium peroxodisulfate, (CTA)2S2O8, was quantitatively prepared and used for the oxidation of various alcohols and hydroquinones to the corresponding carbonyl compounds in acetonitrile. Selective oxidation of allylic or benzylic alcohols in the presence of saturated aliphatic alcohols were achieved. This new oxidizing agent could be regenerated and reused several times and has advantages over similar oxidants in terms of the amount of used oxidant, short reaction time, simple work up, and high yield