Transition metal free one pot synthesis of aryl carboxylic acids via dehomologative oxidation of styrenes

Abstract Iodine/NaOH-catalyzed one-pot dehomologative oxidation of styrenes to aryl carboxylic acids has been reported. A wide range of carboxylic acids are obtained using iodine (I 2 ) as a catalyst, tert -butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) as an oxidant and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) as a base. This reliable conversion involves dehomologation of styrene to aromatic aldehyde which on subsequent oxidation affords aryl carboxylic acid. This protocol was used for gram-scale synthesis as it is free from chromatographic purification. This is the first report for the oxidative transformation of styrenes into aryl carboxylic acids under transition metal-free conditions.