Oxidation of benzylsilanes and benzyltins by oxovanadium(V) compound and molecular oxygen

Benzylsilane and benzyltin compounds were oxidized by oxovanadium(V) compound under an oxygen atmosphere to afford the corresponding aromatic aldehydes (ketones) and/or carboxylic acids. In the reaction of benzyltins, oxovanadium(V) compound can be reduced to 0.5 molar amounts. The reaction of benzylsilanes is considered to proceed via electron-transfer process. On the other hand, benzyltins may undergo transmetallation to generate benzylvanadium species, which are directly transferred to the carbonyl compounds via non-radical process.