Facile and Selective Aerobic Oxidation of Arylalkanes to Aryl Ketones Using Cesium Carbonate

Various arylalkanes such as fluorenes, xanthene, anthrone, 9,10-dihydroanthracene, and diphenylmethane are effectively transformed into the corresponding aryl ketones, while amino and aldehyde functionalities remain intact, under air in the presence of cesium carbonate.