Bis(sym-collidine)bromine(I) hexafluorophosphate as oxidant

Primary and secondary alcohols in solution in methylene chloride are oxidised with bis(sym-collidine)bromine(I) hexafluorophosphate in good yields to the carbonyl compounds. For secondary and tertiary alcohols in which one of the substituents is a 4-methoxyphenyl group the oxidation takes place by cleavage of the phenyl-sp3 carbon bond and formation of bromoanisole and carbonyl compounds.