Oxidation of Vicinal Diols to -Hydroxy Ketones with H2O2 and a Simple Manganese Catalyst

-Hydroxy ketones are valuable synthons in organic chemistry. Here we show that oxidation of vic-diols to -hydroxy ketones with H2O2 can be achieved with an in situ prepared catalyst based on manganese salts and pyridine-2-carboxylic acid. Furthermore the same catalyst is effective in alkene epoxidation, and it is shown that alkene oxidation with the Mn-II catalyst and H2O2 followed by Lewis acid ring opening of the epoxide and subsequent oxidation of the alkene to -hydroxy ketones can be achieved under mild (ambient) conditions.