Sub-stoichiometric oxidation of benzylic alcohols with commercially available activated MnO2 under oxygen atmosphere: a green modification of the benzylic oxidation

Benzylic and allylic alcohols were readily converted into aldehydes and ketones in the presence of sub-stoichiometric amounts of activated MnO2 under oxygen atmosphere. No over-oxidation to carboxylic acid happened. The present procedure dramatically reduces the amounts of MnO2 necessary for the oxidation and provides a greener modification of widely used oxidation method.