An optimized biocatalytic oxidation protocol has been developed for the efficient conversion of benzylic and allylic alcohols into their corresponding aldehydes. The sustainable method uses lyophilized mycelia of Bjerkandera adusta white-rot fungus as a catalyst in the aqueous medium with 2-propanol (10% v/v) as a co-solvent, and operates under mild conditions to give high yields for a wide range of substrates. On a preparative scale, the approach allowed the synthesis of important aldehydes, including benzaldehyde, piperonal, cinnamaldehyde, cuminaldehyde, methoxybenzaldehydes, and citral.
Shah et al. (Tue,) studied this question.