Ethylbenzene is oxidized to the corresponding hydroperoxide (PEHP) with high selectivity, under mild conditions, by means of a metal-free catalytic system consisting of an aldehyde and N-hydroxyphthalimide (NHPI). The process occurs via a free radical mechanism by in situ generation of the phthalimido-N-oxyl (PINO) radical. The protocol is applied with success on a wide range of substituted ethylbenzenes (ETBs). The competitive ...
