Chemoselective aerobic oxidation of 4-allylanisol by Fe(III) porphyrins in an aqueous system

The allyl moiety of 4-allyl-anisol was oxidized in the presence of a Fe(III) porphyrin derivative to the corresponding α,β-unsaturated aldehyde in an initial oxidation step with perfect chemoselectivity. Molecular oxygen was employed as the sole environmental innocuous oxidant. The reaction was performed in an aqueous buffer/CH2Cl2 mixture using the detergent Tween 80 to homogenize the system.