title: Activated carbon for aerobic oxidation: Benign approach toward 2-benzoylbenzimidazoles and 2-benzoylbenzoxazoles synthesis.
abstract: A general strategy involving a novel and highly efficient aerobic benzylic oxidation promoted by cheap, reusable activated carbon in water is developed. Application of this method has been demonstrated in the benign synthesis of bioactive 2-benzoylbenzimidazoles and 2-benzoylbenzoxazoles derivatives. Furthermore, the activated carbon catalyst could be recovered and reused at least three times without significantly losing its activity. Preliminary research suggests that the oxidation mechanism may involve intermediate hydroperoxidation and that a portion of the final carbonyl product is obtained through a secondary benzylic alcohol intermediate. Finally, theoretical calculations reveal that the oxidation yield is closely associated with the electric density at the benzylic position of the substrate.
authors.affiliation: 1] Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design &Discovery, Ministry of Education Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016 (China) [2] Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215 (USA).
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bao
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design &Discovery, Ministry of Education Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016 (China).
authors.forename: Fuqing
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design &Discovery, Ministry of Education Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016 (China).
authors.forename: Hanjing
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design &Discovery, Ministry of Education Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016 (China).
authors.forename: Zhiwei
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design &Discovery, Ministry of Education Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016 (China).
authors.forename: Qirong
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design &Discovery, Ministry of Education Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016 (China).
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Structure-Based Drug Design &Discovery, Ministry of Education Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016 (China).
authors.forename: Weige
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang