Fast oxidation of secondary alcohols by the bromate-bromide system using cyclic microwave heating in acidic water

We report an improved, gentle, cyclic microwave activation technique for the oxidation of secondary alcohols using nonhazardous hypobromous acid (BrOH) as the reagent in acidic water. Several aliphatic and aromatic secondary alcohols were successfully oxidized to the corresponding ketones using this technique in high yields and with only minor amounts of side products.