The Oxidation of Alcohols to Aldehydes or Ketones

The oxidations of alcohols to aldehydes and ketones are vital reactions in synthetic organic chemistry, and high selectivity and mild conditions are important prerequisites for ease of product work-up and lower cost. Currently, many of the best oxidants for these conversions contain high valent ruthenium, with ruthenium acting as a catalyst for these reactions. It is important to have detailed knowledge and understanding of the mechanisms of the oxidation reactions and the factors that influence them, as only by completely understanding how these processes work will it be possible to design better or optimal catalysts. In this paper, the more viable oxidants currently available are reported and some investigations into the mechanisms of the reactions and factors affecting them are discussed.