A Practical O2-Oxidation of Functionalized Alcohols Producing Carboxylic Acids Catalyzed by the Pd–C/Pb(OAc)2 System

Abstract
The Pd–C/Pb(OAc)2 system catalyzes selective O2-oxidation of ArCH(R)CH2OH to ArCH(R)COOH (useful intermediates for drug synthesis) in high yields without contamination of ArCOOH. The turnover number (substrate/Pd) is improved to 85 and >1800 by recycling the catalyst and using a special reactor, respectively. Alkanols are also efficiently oxidized to alkanoic acids by the title catalyst system.