A new and highly effective method for catalytic oxidation of alcohols to the corresponding carbonyl compounds using the tris[(2-oxazolinyl)phenolato]manganese(III)/Oxone®/n-Bu4NBr oxidation system

Oxone® (2KHSO5·KHSO4·K2SO4) in the presence of mer-tris[(2-oxazolinyl)phenolato]manganese(III), Mn(phox)3, as catalyst under biphasic reaction conditions (CH2Cl2/H2O) and tetra-n-butylammonium bromide as phase transfer agent efficiently oxidises alcohols to their corresponding aldehydes and ketones at room temperature with very short reaction times (5 min) and good to quantitative yields.