Cobalt(ii)-catalyzed oxidative esterification of aldehydes: a cooperative effect between cobalt and iodide ions

Abstract

The efficient cobalt(II) catalyzed oxidative alkoxylation of aldehydes, a method directly leading to the corresponding esters, is presented. Mechanism studies provide extensive insights into the cobalt mediated decomposition of TBHP in the presence of the iodide ion. The in situ generated hypoiodites (IO⁻/IO₂⁻) mainly from conversion of I₃⁻ to IO₃⁻ account for a cooperative effect with the oxygen centered radical species to make the important hydrogen abstraction of hemiacetal intermediates more selective, thereby offering high efficiency.