Rapid, chemoselective and mild oxidation protocol for alcohols and ethers with recyclable N-chloro-N-(phenylsulfonyl)benzenesulfonamide

Abstract Chlorine is the 20th most abundant element on the earth compared to bromine, iodine, and fluorine, a sulfonimide reagent, N-chloro-N-(phenylsulfonyl)benzenesulfonamide (NCBSI) was identified as a mild and selective oxidant. Without activation, the reagent was proved to oxidize primary and secondary alcohols as well as their symmetrical and mixed ethers to corresponding aldehydes and ketones. With recoverable PS-TEMPO catalyst, selective oxidation over chlorination of primary and secondary alcohols and their ethers with electron-donating substituents was achieved. The reagent precursor of NCBSI was recovered quantitatively and can be reused for synthesizing NCBSI.