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Chemistry

The Mechanism of TEMPO-Mediated Oxidation of Alcohols to Carbonyls

Quick fact

TEMPO oxidation is so selective that it can convert a primary alcohol to an aldehyde without touching a secondary alcohol in the same molecule, a feat that traditional chromium-based oxidants often fail to achieve.

Why this is interesting

You've probably seen alcohols oxidized to carbonyls using heavy metals like chromium. But what if you could do it with a tiny, stable radical that just keeps going around in circles?