Kinetic and selectivity control of TEMPO electro-mediated oxidation of alcohols

TEMPO electro-mediated oxidation of alcohols has been investigated in aqueous and hydro-organic media. Mono- and poly-saccharides, aryl alcohols and heterocyclic alcohols were converted into the corresponding carbonyls in good chemical and Faradaic yields. In both solvents, the electrochemically generated TEMPO+ was used in catalytic amount and the kinetics was found to be controlled by the diffusion step.