Aerobic Oxygenation of Olefinic Compounds into the Corresponding α-Hydroxy Ketones Using the Catalyst System of OsO4 and Ni(II) Complex

In the presence of the catalyst system of OsO4 and bis(3-methyl-2,4-pentanedionato)nickel(II), various olefinic compounds are directly converted into the corresponding α-hydroxy ketones in good yields with molecular oxygen and an aldehyde.