Aerobic oxidation of primary alcohols in the presence of activated secondary alcohols

Chemoselective aerobic oxidation of primary alcohols in the presence of activated secondary alcohols was effected under irradiation of visible light by using (nitrosyl)Ru(salen) complex 6 that possesses bulky 1-ethyl-1-methylpropyl groups at C3, C3′, C5 and C5′, as catalyst. For example, oxidation of n-decanol was >50 times faster than oxidation of 1-phenylethanol at 10 °C.