A mild and efficient method for the oxidation of benzylic alcohols by two-phase electrolysis

Electrochemical oxidation of benzylic and substituted benzylic alcohols by two-phase electrolysis yields the corresponding aldehydes as products. The reaction was carried out in a single compartment cell with platinum electrodes at room temperature in chloroform using an aqueous sodium bromide solution (25%) containing a catalytic amount of HBr. The two-phase electrolysis resulted in high yields (74-96%) of benzaldehyde from primary alcohols and secondary alcohols were oxidized to the corresponding ketone but only in low yields under these conditions.