Pd(II)-hydrotalcite-catalyzed oxidation of alcohols to aldehydes and ketones using atmospheric pressure of air

A heterogenized Pd catalyst, Pd(II)-hydrotalcite (palladium(II) acetate-pyr idine complex supported by hydrotalcite) catalyzes the aerobic, oxidation i n toluene of a variety of primary and secondary alcohols into the correspon ding aldehydes and ketones in high yields using atmospheric pressure of air as a sole oxidant under mild conditions. This catalyst is also effective f or the oxidation of allylic alcohols, especially such as geraniol and nerol , without any isomerization of an alkenic part, The catalyst can be easily prepared from all commercially available reagents and reused several times.