Palladium–Schiff base–triphenylphosphine catalyzed oxidation of alcohols

Abstract Novel palladium(II)‐ N ‐(2‐pyridyl)‐ N ′‐(5‐ R ‐salicylidene) hydrazine triphenylphosphine complexes were synthesized and characterized by UV, IR, 1 H NMR and 31 P NMR spectral analysis, C, H, N analysis and magnetic susceptibility measurements. The complexes were effective in the catalytic oxidation of primary and secondary alcohols in presence of N ‐methyl‐morpholine‐ N ‐oxide as oxidant. The oxidation reactions were carried out in dichloromethane. A mechanistic study of the above reactions has been proposed. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.