Aerobic Oxidation of Primary Alcohols by a New Mononuclear Cu(II) -Radical Catalyst.

Primary alcohols such as ethanol or benzyl alcohol are selectively and catalytically oxidized by the mononuclear copper(II) radical complex 1-a functional model of the metalloenzyme galactose oxidase-with oxygen from air at 20°C to give the corresponding aldehydes and H2 O2 in about 60 % yield.