Oxidation of alcohols to carbonyl compounds with diisopropyl azodicarboxylate catalyzed by nitroxyl radicals

A nitroxyl-radical-catalyzed oxidation of alcohols using diisopropyl azodicarboxylate (DIAD) as the terminal oxidant is reported. A variety of primary and secondary alcohols including aliphatic, benzylic, and allylic alcohols are efficiently oxidized to their corresponding aldehydes and ketones without overoxidation to carboxylic acid. 1,2-Diols are oxidized to hydroxyl ketones or diketones depending on the amount of DIAD used.