Tandem Oxidation of Allylic and Benzylic Alcohols to Esters Catalyzed by N-Heterocyclic Carbenes

N-Heterocyclic carbenes catalyze the oxidation of allylic, propargylic, and benzylic alcohols to esters with manganese(IV) oxide in excellent yields. A variety of ester derivatives can be synthesized, including protected carboxylates. This one-pot tandem oxidation represents the first organocatalytic oxidation of alcohols to esters. Saturated esters can also be accessed from aldehydes using this method. Through the utilization of a chiral catalyst, the acyl−heteroazolium intermediate becomes a chiral acylating agent, which can desymmetrize meso-1,2-diols.