Phase transfer catalysis by tetraethylammonium bromide: Oxidation of primary and secondary alcohols using potassium superoxide in aprotic medium.

Tetraethylammonium superoxide, generated in situ by the phase transfer reac tion of potassium superoxide and tetraethylammonium bromide, readily oxidis es the primary and secondary alcohols in dry dimethylformamide at room temp erature. As a result, primary alcohols are transformed into their correspon ding acids whereas secondary alcohols are converted to ketones in fairly go od yields. The report demonstrates the applicability of tetraethylammonium bromide as phase transfer catalyst for efficient superoxide studies.