Ferrites catalyzed aerobic oxidation of benzoin and its extension to enantioselective version

• Catalytic activity of various ferrite spinels has been studied in the oxidation.
• Asymmetric version on the surface of magnetite, inverse spinel was studied first time.
• Cobalt ferrite showed good catalytic activity.

Ferrites have been used as efficient catalysts for the oxidation of α-hydroxy ketones in the presence of air. The enantio selective version of the benzoin oxidation gave 30% yield with 43% ee using (L)-tartaric acid as chiral modifier on magnetite (inverse spinel).

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