TEMPO‐Catalyzed Continuous‐Flow Aerobic Oxidations of Alcohols on Silica

Abstract 2,2,6,6′‐Tetramethylpiperidine‐N‐oxyl (TEMPO) is a highly efficient oxidation catalyst, valued for its environmentally benign nature, particularly in comparison to transition‐metal catalysts. Despite their merits, TEMPO‐based catalysts are not notably cost‐effective. Immobilization of TEMPO onto supports offers a promising strategy to overcome this limitation. In this work, we present the synthesis and application of immobilized TEMPO catalysts 2–5 , prepared via a straightforward condensation reaction, for the aerobic oxidation of alcohols. These catalysts demonstrate remarkable activity for alcohol oxidations under continuous‐flow conditions, employing nitric acid as the co‐catalyst. Notably, catalyst 2 immobilized by COOH silica gel exhibits outstanding performance for the oxidation of benzyl alcohol by oxygen gas, achieving a turnover frequency (TOF) of 15 h −1 and a turnover number (TON) exceeding 300. Catalyst 2 further demonstrates broad substrate scope, effectively oxidizing primary, secondary, and benzylic alcohols. Post‐reaction analysis of spent catalyst 2 reveals that deactivation primarily stems from nitrosation of the N−O bond. Interestingly, the amide moiety remains intact despite the harsh acidic reaction conditions.