Aerobic benzyl alcohol oxidation by copper(I)(2,2′-bipyridine)-based catalysts

"In situ” prepared cationic Cu(I) complexes bearing 2,2’-bipyridine ligands and trifluoromethylsulfonate (triflate) have been used to catalyze the aerobic oxidation of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde in acetonitrile in the presence of (2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidin-1-yl) oxyl (TEMPO). A combination of catalytic reactions, operando 1H NMR spectroscopic studies and the analysis of the molecular structure of the Cu(I) precatalysts in acetonitrile by means of DFT calculations shed light on the notable influence of counter-anion ligand interactions on the observed catalytic activity.