Clean and selective oxidation of alcohols catalyzed by ion-supported TEMPO in water

Three different types of ion-supported TEMPO catalysts are synthesized and their catalytic activity in the chemoselective oxidation of alcohols is investigated. These new catalysts show high catalytic activity in water and can be reused for the next run by extraction of products. Recycling experiments exhibit that ion-supported TEMPO can be reused up to five times without loss of catalytic activity. This system offers a very clean, convenient, environmentally benign method for the selective oxidation of alcohols.