Magnetically retrievable MFe2O4 spinel (M = Mn, Co, Cu, Ni, Zn) catalysts for oxidation of benzylic alcohols to carbonyls

The catalytic activity of the MFe2O4 spinel (M = Mn, Co, Cu, Ni, Zn) was investigated for the oxidation of benzylic alcohols to respective carbonyls using tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) as an oxidant. The combination of CoFe2O4/TBHP in a dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) catalytic system was found to be most efficient for this catalytic conversion. A CoFe2O4 catalyst is magnetically separable and could be reused with no considerable loss in catalytic activity as proved for 5 consecutive cycles.