Halogen-free oxidation of aryl ketones and benzyl nitrile derivatives to corresponding carboxylic acids by using NaOH/ TBHP in aqueous medium

Using inexpensive NaOH as the base and aq. TBHP (70%) as the oxidant, we have developed an efficient oxidative methodology for converting aryl ketones and benzyl nitrile derivatives to their corresponding acids in good yields. Several industrially relevant carboxylic acids could be easily synthesized in gram scale using this protocol.