Selective oxidation of 1,2-diols by electrochemical method using organotin compound and bromide ion as mediators

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4039(97)10709-2

A new electrochemical method for a selective oxidation of 1,2-diols to keto alcohols was explored. The method used dibutyltin oxide and bromide ion as mediators, and the oxidation was found to proceed effectively at 0°C under neutral conditions. Under these reaction conditions, 1,2-cyclohexanediol was selectively oxidized even in the presence of primary and secondary alcohols.