Copper-catalyzed benzylic oxidation of C(sp3)-H bonds

A selective oxidation of benzylic C(sp3)-H bonds to C(sp3)-O bonds catalyzed by copper complexes of quinoline-imine ligands was developed with peresters as oxidants under mild reaction conditions, which converted benzylic methylenes directly into benzylic alcohols and esters by means of direct C-H bond functionalization.