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CC BY 4.0 · SynOpen 2026; 10(01): 66-77
DOI: 10.1055/a-2780-6932
DOI: 10.1055/a-2780-6932
graphical review
Copper Catalysts in Oxidation/Dehydrogenation and Oxidative Functionalization of Alcohols
Authors
This research was funded by NSERC Discovery Grant (RGPIN-2020-07211), Le Fonds de Recherche du Québec (FRQNT-2020-RS4-265155-CCVC), Centre in Green Chemistry and Catalysis (CGCC), MITACS/Paraza Pharma and the Richard and Edith Strauss Foundation.
Abstract
This graphical review highlights recent advances in copper-catalyzed oxidation and dehydrogenation of alcohols to the corresponding carbonyl compounds and their use in dehydrogenative coupling reactions. It primarily covers the developments from 2015 to the present. Different oxidative and dehydrogenative pathways are discussed under homogeneous and heterogeneous conditions. Key mechanistic features, catalytic pathways, and substrate trends for electron-donating and electron-withdrawing groups (EDG and EWG) are outlined. Advances in catalyst design, the integration of copper with other metals for structural supports, such as nanoparticles and metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), are illustrated. The review further emphasizes the expanding synthetic applications of copper-catalyzed alcohol oxidation or dehydrogenation in one-pot tandem transformations, leading to imines, pyridines, pyrimidines, quinazolines, quinones, and related heterocycles, showcasing the versatility of this sustainable catalytic platform.
Key words
copper catalysis - oxidation - alcohol dehydrogenation - heterogeneous pathway - homogeneous pathway - electron-donating group - electron-withdrawing group - one-pot synthesis - acceptorlessPublication History
Received: 07 November 2025
Accepted after revision: 31 December 2025
Article published online:
05 February 2026
© 2026. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
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