Oxidation of Vicinal Diols to α-Hydroxy Ketones with H 2 O 2 and a Simple Manganese Catalyst.

α-Hydroxy ketones are valuable synthons in organic chemistry. Here we show that oxidation of vic -diols to α-hydroxy ketones with H2 O2 can be achieved with an in situ prepared catalyst based on manganese salts and pyridine-2-carboxylic acid. Furthermore the same catalyst is effective in alkene epoxidation, and it is shown that alkene oxidation with the MnII catalyst and H2 O2 followed by Lewis acid ring opening of the epoxide and subsequent oxidation of the alkene to α-hydroxy ketones can be achieved under mild (ambient) conditions.