Aerobic oxidation of aldehydes to acids with N-hydroxyphthalimide derivatives

[Display omitted] The N-hydroxyphthalimide derivative-mediated aerobic oxidation of a selection of aldehydes to the corresponding carboxylic acids in air is described. This reaction proceeds via rearrangement of the Creigee (carboxylic peracid) intermediate and/or by the treatment of H2O and/or sulfides. Optimization of reaction conditions established NHNPI (14) as a mild catalyst for the oxidation reaction in MeCN under an atmosphere of air.