Novel Vanadium-Catalyzed Oxidation of Alcohols to Aldehydes and Ketones under Atmospheric Oxygen

Oxidation of alcohols to aldehydes and ketones has been studied in high yields using atmospheric oxygen and a catalytic amount of V₂O₅ in toluene under heating (ca. 100 °C). Secondary alcohols can be chemoselectively converted into ketones in the presence of primary hydroxy groups.