Selective Aerobic Oxidation of Methylarenes to Benzaldehydes Catalyzed by N-Hydroxyphthalimide and Cobalt(II) Acetate in Hexafluoropropan-2-ol.

Efficient and highly selective catalytic conditions for the aerobic autoxidation of methylarenes to benzaldehydes, based on N-hydroxyphthalimide (NHPI) and cobalt(II) acetate in 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoropropan-2-ol (HFIP), were developed. The sustainable conditions enable a multigram scale preparation of benzaldehyde derivatives in high efficiency and with excellent chemoselectivity (up to 99 % conversion and 98 % selectivity).