The immobilized NaHSO4·H2O on activated charcoal was used as a highly efficient promoter system for facile N-formylation of amines with ethyl formate. All reactions were carried out in refluxing ethyl formate (54 ?C) under mild conditions within 10-100 min to afford the product formamides in high to excellent yields (80-94%).

Selective oxidation of primary and secondary alcohols to the corresponding aldehydes and ketones was achieved efficiently using K2S2O8/activated charcoal system. All reactions were carried out at solvent?free conditions (40?45 ?C) within 15?60 min to give the products in high to excellent yields.