Self-promoted vanadium-catalyzed oxidation of pyridinemethanol with molecular oxygen

Catalytic oxidation of alcohols containing heteroatoms with molecular oxygen is usually rather challenging, as transition metal catalysts are easily deactivated by heteroatoms. In contrast to conventional results, herein facile oxidation of 2-pyridinemethanol with dioxgyen was observed over simple vanadium catalysts including VOSO4 or VO(acac)2, which seemed much easier than that of benzyl alcohol. 2-Pyridinemethanol could coordinate with the vanadium center, which would promote oxidation of 2-pyridinemethanol itself, rather than deactivate vanadium catalysts. This study would provide a new clue to develop efficient catalysts for transformations of heterocyclic compounds.