Synthetic Utility of Non-Heavy-Metal Catalysts for Hydrogen Peroxide Oxidation of Organic Compounds: Recent Advances

Oxidation of different groups of organic compounds, with hydrogen peroxide by non-heavymetal containing low-molecular-weight compounds is reviewed. Since hydrogen peroxide is inactive toward most of the organic substrates, catalytic in situ activation of the terminal oxidant is necessary. The bases, acids, iodine and bromine, selenium compounds, flavines, triazines, amines, N-oxides, thioureas, nitriles and ketones, aluminium compounds and carbon materials are representative catalysts. They are involved in oxygen and electron transfer processes whose mechanisms are briefly discussed. Their applications in practical synthesis for the oxidative transformations of different organic compounds are indicated.