Metal-free one-pot oxidative conversion of benzylic alcohols and benzylic halides into aromatic amides with molecular iodine in aq ammonia, and hydrogen peroxide

Various primary alcohols, particularly benzylic alcohols, could be converted into the corresponding aromatic amides in good yields in a one-pot manner by treatment with molecular iodine in aq. NH3, followed by reaction with ∼30% aq H2O2. Similarly, various benzylic halides could be also converted into the corresponding aromatic amides in good yields in a one-pot manner by treatment with molecular iodine in aq NH3, followed by reaction with ∼30% aq H2O2. The present reactions involve the metal-free one-pot oxidative conversion of benzylic alcohols and benzylic halides into the corresponding aromatic amides, respectively.