Metal-Free Aerobic Oxidative Selective C–C Bond Cleavage in Heteroaryl-Containing Primary and Secondary Alcohols

A transition-metal-free aerobic oxidative selective C–C bond-cleavage reaction in primary and secondary heteroaryl alcohols is reported. This reaction was highly efficient and tolerated various heteroaryl alcohols, generating a carboxylic acid derivative and a neutral heteroaromatic compound. Experimental studies combined with density functional theory calculations revealed the mechanism underlying the selective C–C bond cleavage. This strategy also provides an alternative simple approach to carboxylation reaction.