CuCl catalyzed selective oxidation of primary alcohols to carboxylic acids with tert-butyl hydroperoxide at room temperature

Direct oxidation of primary alcohols to the corresponding carboxylic acids is performed highly efficiently at room temperature with anhydrous tert-butyl hydroperoxide in the presence of a catalytic amount of CuCl under ligand free conditions in acetonitrile. Benzylic alcohols and allylic alcohols are more reactive than aliphatic alcohols, and are selectively oxidized to the corresponding acids in the presence of aliphatic alcohols such as 1-octanol and 1-decanol.