Copper Slag as efficient catalyst for the Fenton-like reaction: Conversion of alcohols to carbonyls

The growing emphasis on environmentally friendly approaches in synthetic chemistry has gained significant attention. In this study, we utilized a waste material, Copper Slag, to catalyze the Fenton-like reaction. The catalyst’s iron content in oxide form is essential for generating radicals from ammonium persulfate, which plays a vital role in alcohol oxidation. Using Copper Slag as a catalyst offers numerous advantages, including eco-friendliness, cost-effectiveness, ease of use, and convenient workup procedures. These methods require less time and operate under mild conditions. Additionally, they leverage abundantly available and recyclable materials, which can be easily separated using magnets for efficient recovery. The results of our work demonstrate an efficient approach for oxidizing alcohols to aldehydes and ketones through the Fenton-like reaction where 20 wt% copper slag is used at room temperature using water: ethyl acetate solvent in the ratio of 1:4. Several aldehydes and ketones were successfully synthesized without any byproduct formation using this method, highlighting its effectiveness in achieving desired chemical transformations.