The oxidation of ethane-1,2-diol resulting from molecular oxygen activation by copper: formation of an oxoethanoate complex precedes carbon–carbon bond cleavage

Abstract
The aerial oxidation of ethane-1,2-diol in the presence of copper metal and pyridine (py) at room temperature and atmospheric pressure produces [Cu(py)2(HCO2)2]·H2O and [Cu2(py)4(OCH2CO2)2]·(CH2OH)2; the structure of the latter has been fully elucidated by an X-ray study.