Iron-surfactant nanocomposite-catalyzed benzylic oxidation in water, Fruzsina Szabó, Bálint Pethő, Zsombor Gonda, Zoltán Novák, RSC Advances 2013, 3, 4903-4908. DOI: 10.1039/C3RA22856H | [Supp. Info Link]

Benzylic oxidation in the presence of an iron–surfactant nanocomposite catalyst under aqueous conditions is described. A significant reaction rate acceleration in the presence of anionic surfactants was demonstrated. Several benzylic substrates were efficiently transformed to ketones under mild conditions.