Palladium on Carbon‐Catalyzed Synthesis of Benzil Derivatives from 1,2‐Diarylalkynes with DMSO and Molecular Oxygen as Dual Oxidants

A palladium on carbon (Pd/C)‐catalyzed synthetic method for the preparation of benzil derivatives from 1,2‐diarylalkynes has been established using dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and molecular oxygen as dual oxidants. Regardless of the electrical nature of the functional groups on the aromatic rings, 1,2‐diarylalkynes were oxidized to the corresponding benzil derivatives in high to excellent yields. Furthermore, the oxidation could efficiently be catalyzed by both the dry and wet types of Pd/C under atmospheric conditions.