Oxidation of Benzylic Alcohols into Aldehydes Under Solvent-Free Microwave Irradiation Using New Catalyst-Support System

This work deals with the catalytic conversion of alcohols to aldehydes using a new support-nanocatalyst system consisting of chromium trioxide supported on nanostructured hydroxyapatite (Cr-NHAP). The oxidation reaction was carried out on a series of substituted benzylic alcohols under solvent-free microwave irradiation conditions. The obtained results showed high selectivity and high yield that was found to depend on the nature, the electronegativity and the position (para or meta) of the substituent on the aromatic cycle of the reagent.