Selective Single-Step Oxidation of Amine to Cross-Azo Compounds with an Unhampered Primary Benzyl Alcohol Functionality.

This is the first report of a single-step synthesis of primary benzyl alcohol containing different cross-azo compounds (14 examples) by Cu(II) in the presence of a newly synthesized amino-ether heteroditopic macrobicycle cage. Interestingly, even with extreme conditions, the benzyl alcohol remains unoxidized by the Cu(II) catalyst due to the protective etherial pocket of the cage.