Metal- and radical-free aerobic oxidation of heteroaromatic methanes: an efficient synthesis of heteroaromatic aldehydes

Abstract

A metal-free and radical-free synthesis of heteroaromatic aldehydes was developed through aerobic oxidation of methyl groups in an I₂/DMSO/O₂ catalytic system. Under the reaction conditions, various functional groups such as methoxy, aldehyde, ester, nitro, amide, and halo (F, Cl, Br) groups were well tolerated. The bioactive compounds like chlorchinaldin derivative and papaverine were also oxidized to the corresponding aldehydes and ketones. This reaction provided an efficient method for preparing the valuable heteroaromatic aldehydes.