Copper Catalysts in Oxidation/Dehydrogenation and Oxidative Functionalization of Alcohols

Abstract This graphical review highlights recent advances in copper-catalyzed oxidation and dehydrogenation of alcohols to the corresponding carbonyl compounds and their use in dehydrogenative coupling reactions. It primarily covers the developments from 2015 to the present. Different oxidative and dehydrogenative pathways are discussed under homogeneous and heterogeneous conditions. Key mechanistic features, catalytic pathways, and substrate trends for electron-donating and electron-withdrawing groups (EDG and EWG) are outlined. Advances in catalyst design, the integration of copper with other metals for structural supports, such as nanoparticles and metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), are illustrated. The review further emphasizes the expanding synthetic applications of copper-catalyzed alcohol oxidation or dehydrogenation in one-pot tandem transformations, leading to imines, pyridines, pyrimidines, quinazolines, quinones, and related heterocycles, showcasing the versatility of this sustainable catalytic platform.