Efficient oxidation of cycloalkanols by sodium nitrite with molecular oxygen in trifluoroacetic acid

Oxidation of aliphatic cycloalkanols by sodium nitrite in trifluoroacetic acid gave α,ω-dicarboxylic acids in good yields. Adipic acid was obtained in a quantitative yield from cyclohexanol using 1 equiv of sodium nitrite under oxygen atmosphere but the oxidation required more than 3 equiv of sodium nitrite under nitrogen atmosphere. The oxidation method was applicable to the conversion of 1-alkanols to the corresponding carboxylic acids.