Aerobic oxidation of alcohols catalyzed by rhodium(III) porphyrin complexes in water: reactivity and mechanistic studies

Selective oxidation of alcohol in water using molecular oxygen as the terminal oxidant is mediated by rhodium porphyrin complexes. Addition of methanol to an aqueous solution of (TSPP) Rh(III) resulted in observation of the key intermediate porphyrin rhodium(III) methoxide species. The activation parameters for beta C-H elimination of Rh-alkoxide were evaluated.