A useful oxidation of C–H bond of benzylic acetals
has been
achieved. This method avoids the use of stoichiometric metals and
is compatible with the presence of both electron-donating and electron-withdrawing
substituents on the aromatic ring. Oxidation was carried out by rapid
microwave irradiation of benzylic acetals with PhI(OAc)2 as the oxidant. This led to the oxidation of acetals into 2-acetoxy-1,3-dioxolanes.
Furthermore, this transformation protocol encompasses a wide range
of valuable conversions of these useful synthons into different carboxylic
acid derivatives.