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Updated: Jun 26, 2026

Retropinacol/Cross-pinacol Coupling Reactions - A Catalytic Access to 1,2-Unsymmetrical Diols
Published on: April 4, 2014
Aerobic oxidation of pinacol by vanadium(V) dipicolinate complexes: evidence for reduction to vanadium(III)
Susan K Hanson1, R Tom Baker, John C Gordon
1Chemistry Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, USA.
Abstract:
The reactivity of vanadium complexes bearing the ligand dipicolinic acid (H(2)dipic) with alcohols has been explored. Dipic vanadium complexes are able to catalyze the aerobic oxidative C-C bond cleavage of pinacol. Reaction under anaerobic conditions allowed for isolation of a V(III) mu-oxo dimer, supporting the involvement of V(III) in aerobic oxidation reactions. Stoichiometric oxidation of unactivated aliphatic alcohols has also been observed, with oxidation of cyclobutanol producing cyclobutanone in 93% yield. The absence of ring-opening products in this reaction provides further support for the involvement of V(III) intermediates.
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