dichloroethane (20 mL) were placed into a three-necked round bottom flask (50 mL) equipped with an oxygen balloon and a magnetic stir bar. The mixture was stirred at 40°C for 24 hours. The reaction was monitored by GC instrument. The conversion was calculated on the basis of the peak area ratio of cyclohexane against the internal standard, biphenyl. The product yields were calculated on the basis of the peak area ratio of cyclohexanol, cyclohexanone, and ɛ-caprolactone against the internal standard. Control experiment was conducted in the absence of NHPI.General EPR experiments in different solvents. To a 25 mL Schlenk tube with a magnetic stirrer was added 0.2122 g (2 mmol) of benzaldehyde, 0.0163 g (0.1 mmol) of NHPI and 10 mL of 1,2dichloroethane (DCE). The mixture was stirred at 40°C for 30 min at atmospheric pressure. Thereafter, EPR was measured immediately. The EPR spectra of the reaction solution were obtained by using a computer controlled X-band (9.5 GHz) EPR spectrometer (Bruker A300). The solvent DCE was replaced by CH 3 CN and Toluene. Control experiments were conducted in the absence of benzaldehyde in different solvents.
General EPR experiments with NHPI.To a 50 mL three-necked glass flask fitted with a water cooled reflux condenser, a magnetic stir bar and an oxygen balloon was added 0.4245 g (4 mmol) of benzaldehyde and 20 mL of 1,2-dichloroethane (DCE). The mixture was stirred at 40°C for 30 min at atmospheric pressure. Then 0.0326 g (0.2 mmol) of NHPI was added into the mixture and the mixture was stirred for another 30 min. The EPR spectra of the reaction solution (Figure 1(c), green) were obtained by using a computer controlled X-band (9.5GHz) EPR spectrometer (Bruker A300). Thereafter, EPR was measured immediately upon addition of 0.168 g (2 mmol) of cyclohexane into the reaction system (blue). The reaction was continued for 2 h before measuring EPR (red).