Selective and Efficient Oxidation of Benzylic Alcohols to Benzaldehydes and Methyl Benzoates by Dibromo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin

<div><p></p><p>A selective and efficient method of oxidizing benzyl alcohols to benzaldehydes and methyl benzoates by using 1,3-dibromo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin (DBDMH) as oxidant is developed. One-step conversion of benzyl alcohols to methyl benzoates in methanol at room temperature for 12 hours is achieved without any catalysts. Moreover, para-substituted benzyl alcohols are obtained in 86–98% yield. When dichloromethane is used as solvent, further oxidation of benzaldehydes to esters is well controlled, selectively affording benzaldehydes in 89–99% yield within 30 minutes.</p> <p>[Supplementary materials are available for this article. Go to the publisher's online edition of <i>Synthetic Communications</i>® for the following free supplemental resource(s): Full experimental and spectral details.]</p> </div