Aerobic oxidation with N-hydroxyphthalimide catalysts in ionic liquid

N-Hydroxyphthalimide (NHPI)-catalyzed aerobic oxidations in the ionic liquids were examined for the first time. Both NHPI and its ionic derivative, 3-pyridinylmethyl-N-hydroxyphthalimide (Py-NHPI), were found to have better performance in the ionic liquid than in the conventional organic solvents for the aerobic oxidation of N-alkylamides to imides. On the other hand, Py-NHPI was found to be a much better catalyst than NHPI for the aerobic oxidation of benzylic compounds in the ionic liquid.