Fe3O4 nanoparticles/ethyl acetoacetate system for the efficient catalytic oxidation of aldehydes to carboxylic acids

A new methodology for the oxidation of aldehydes promoted by commercially available Fe3O4 nanoparticles (Fe3O4 NPs) activated by ethyl acetoacetate was developed. The use of ethyl acetoacetate as additive was crucial to achieve high reactivities. All reactions were realized under solvent free conditions, using air or tBuOOH as oxidants. Finally, the separation and reuse of the magnetically recoverable nanoparticles make this methodology very practical, simple and economical.