Catalysts for convenient aerobic alcohol oxidations in air: systematic ligand studies in Pd/pyridine systems

We report highly convenient Pd catalysts for the aerobic oxidation of alcohols, which are generated in situ by combining commercially available catalyst precursors. Systematic optimizations of the L- and X-type ligand environment and the employed additive allow the use of air as the sole oxidant without formation of Pd black. The resulting novel protocol provides quantitative yields of a broad variety of ketones and aldehydes.