Fe(NO3)3/2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone (DDQ): An efficient catalyst system for selective oxidation of alcohols under aerobic conditions

•Fe(NO3)3 and DDQ as the catalysts with air as the terminal oxidant•Various aldehydes and ketones were obtained in good to excellent yields.•A plausible mechanism was proposed.

A practical and efficient catalyst system for the oxidation of alcohols to carbonyl compounds using catalytic amounts of DDQ and Fe(NO3)3 with air as the environmentally benign oxidant has been developed. A variety of benzylic, heterocyclic, allylic and propargylic alcohols were smoothly converted into aldehydes or ketones in good to excellent yields. In case of large-scale reaction for the oxidation of benzyl alcohol, benzaldehyde was obtained in 93% isolated yield. Moreover, a possible reaction mechanism was proposed.