Chemistry Letters, Vol.38, No.5, 430-431, 2009
Palladium(II)-catalyzed Selective Oxidation of alpha,beta-Unsaturated Aldehydes to alpha,beta-Unsaturated Carboxylic Acids with Hydrogen Peroxide
Palladium(II)-catalyzed chemoselective oxidation of alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes with hydrogen peroxide to give alpha,beta-unsaturated carboxylic acids was performed. Cinnamaldehyde was effectively catalyzed by palladium(II) trifluoroacetate to generate cinnamic acid in 92% yield under organic solvent-free conditions. The reaction appears to be applicable to various alpha,beta- unsaturated aldehydes.