Regioselective Wacker-Type Oxidation of Internal Olefins in ^tBuOH Using Oxygen as the Sole Oxidant and ^tBuONO as the Organic Redox Cocatalyst

A regioselective Wacker-Tsuji oxidation of internal olefins in ^tBuOH has been developed using oxygen as the terminal oxidant and tert-butyl nitrite as the simple organic redox cocatalyst without the involvement of hazardous cocatalysts or harsh reaction conditions. A series of internal olefins bearing various functional groups can be oxidized to the corresponding substituted ketones in generally good yields with high regioselectivities.