Iodine-Promoted Controlled and Selective Oxidation of (Aryl)(Heteroaryl)Methanes.

The development of direct and controlled oxidation of C-H bonds is of great importance. Herein, an iodine-catalyzed controlled oxidation of (aryl)(heteroaryl)methanes to (aryl)(heteroaryl)methanols is disclosed under metal-free reaction conditions. A catalytic system comprised of iodine/silyl chloride with HI as an additive in the presence of dimethyl sulfoxide selectively oxidizes the C-H bonds without being overoxidized to corresponding ketones.