Direct Aerobic α-Hydroxylation of Arylacetates for the Synthesis of Mandelates.

Aerobic α-hydroxylation of α-methylene esters has proven challenging due to overoxidation and hydrolysis of the materials. In this article, KOtBu-promoted TBAB-catalyzed α-hydroxylation of α-methylene aryl esters using O2 as the oxygen source has been developed. Both low reaction temperature and catalyst TBAB are keys to success. This reaction provides an environmentally friendly and low-cost approach to mandelates, which are valuable building blocks and widely present in pharmaceuticals.