Pd/Mg–La mixed oxide catalyzed oxidative sp2 CH bond acylation with alcohols

•Pd/Mg–La catalyst showed efficient oxidative sp2 CH bond acylation of 2-phenylpyridine.•The catalyst displayed excellent yields using H2O as solvent with benzylalcohol as acylation agent.•Pd/Mg–La can be used for four cycles with consistent activity and selectivity.

Pd/Mg–La mixed oxide is used as an efficient catalyst for the oxidative direct acylation of arene sp2 CH bonds with alcohols. TBHP was used for in situ oxidation of the alcohols to aldehydes which after coupling with 2-aryl pyridines forms aryl ketones. The catalyst is recovered and used for four cycles.

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload high-quality image (108 K)Download as PowerPoint slide