Oxidation of Alkynes, Alkenes, and Benzylic Hydrocarbons

Oxidation of Alkynes, Alkenes, and Benzylic Hydrocarbons. The yields of 1,2-diketones from the oxidation of acetylenes by potassium permanganate under aqueous conditions are substantially improved by buffering (pH 7—7.5) the reaction mixture.However, potassium permanganate-phase transfer catalyst in 

Yoneda, Y. Sakuma, Y. Kadokawa, and A. Koshiro, Chem. Lett., 1979, 1467. 

Moderate yields of benzils are reported from the photosensitized oxidation of diarylacetylenes.  

The use of benzeneseleninic anhydride has been extended to the synthesis of aldehydes and ketones by benzylic oxidation. A similar result is obtained by the use of DDQ as oxidant.  

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