Green and Mild Oxidation: from Acetate Anion to Oxalate Anion

A novel reaction system for the preparation of oxalate anion from cupric acetate and 2-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)-1,10-phenanthroline under green and mild reaction conditions is reported herein, namely, the methyl group from the acetate anion has been oxidized into a carboxyl group by air in the presence of Cu-II ion and 2-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)-1,10-phenanthroline at 0 to 30 degrees C. In the reaction, the Cu-II complex was formed with 1,10-phenanthrolin-2-ol and oxalate as ligands, in which 1,10-phenanthrolin-2-ol comes from the hydrolysis of 2-(1H-imidazol-1-yl)-1,10-phenanthroline and oxalate from the oxidation of acetate. The reaction system functions similarly to those of fungi. [GRAPHICS] The reaction system reported herein can oxidize methyl group into oxalate anion undergreen and mild reaction condition.