Oxidation off ortho-Substituted Benzyl Alcohols by Phenyliodoso Acetate

Oxidation of benzyl alcohol and some ortho-substituted benzyl alcohols by phenyliodoso acetate in t-butyl alcohol:water medium (50:50) leads to the formation of corresponding benzaldehyde. The stoichiometry of the reaction is found to be 1:1. The reaction is first order each in substrate and oxidant concentrations. This reaction is studied at four different temperature and the activation parameters are calculated. Correlation analysis is carried out using Chartons Triparametric equation. The reaction is subjected to steric retardation by the artho-substituents. The % of steric and resonance calculated. A suitable mechanism has been proposed.