Copper(I) and copper(II) mediated two-electron oxidations of benzylic alcohols and diaryl acetic acids by trimethylamine N-oxide

A novel ligand oxidation of CuI and CuII benzylic alcoholates and diaryl acetic carboxylates to carbonyl compounds by trimethylamine N-oxide gives support to the existence of cupryl (–CuIIIO) intermediates, previously postulated in the reaction of CuI derivatives with dioxygen.