Selective Oxidation of Alkylarenes to the Aromatic Ketones or Benzaldehydes with Water

Here a palladium-catalyzed oxidation method for converting alkylarenes into the aromatic ketones or benzaldehydes with water as the only oxygen donor is reported. This C–H bond oxidation functionalization does not require other oxidants and hydrogen acceptors, and H₂ is the only byproduct. The oxygen atom introduced into the products is confirmed to be from water by the MS analysis on the product of the ¹⁸O-labeled water reaction.