A versatile cobalt(II)-Schiff base catalyzed oxidation of organic substrates with dioxygen: scope and mechanism

Cobalt(II) complex 1a-f derived from Schiff bases act as efficient catalysts during the oxidation of wide range of organic substrates(e.g. alkenes, alcohols, benzylic compounds and aliphatic hydrocarbons) with dioxygen in the presence of aliphatic aldehydes or ketones or ketoesters. EPR studies on 1a-f complexes suggest that the aliphatic carbonyl compounds promote the formation of a cobalt(III)-superoxo species responsible for the oxidation of organic compounds. These studies also demonstrate the role of ligands on cobalt in controlling the chemoselectivity of these oxidations. A plausible mechanistic rational is also provided for these oxidations