Green and rapid oxidation of aldehydes using a catalytic applications of Deep Eutectic Solvent

Abstract

The development of novel and environmentally friendly solvents for chemical reactions is a vital in the pursuit of sustainable chemistry. This study presents a sustainable and efficient protocol for the rapid oxidation of benzaldehyde derivatives in the presence of catalytic Deep Eutectic Solvent (DES) system to their corresponding benzoic acids. A novel ternary DES composed of Urea/ZnCl₂/HCl was synthesized using a combination of Urea, ZnCl₂, and HCl for the first time and employed as an environmentally friendly oxidation catalyst using H₂O₂ as an oxidant at 60 °C. Benzaldehyde derivatives with diverse range of functional groups and substitution patterns afforded remarkable results, as it achieved high to excellent yields of the corresponding benzoic acids within a remarkably short reaction time of only 50 min. This protocol offers several advantages over alternative methods, including high product yields, the elimination of toxic and hazardous solvents and catalysts, and straightforward experimental procedures. Furthermore, the synthesized DES excellent recyclability, allowing for its reuse up to five times without any significant loss of functionality. Moreover, the synthesized DES demonstrated exceptional recyclability, enabling it to be reused up to five times without experiencing any notable decline in its effectiveness or functionality.