The complex ion can easily oxidize alcohol, aldehyde and amine, and capable of decarboxylating α-hydroxycarboxylic acids and phenylacetic acids to give the corresponding carbonyl compounds. Benzylic C-H bonds are oxidatively converted to carbonyl groups:
Aromatic thiols and allylaryl thioethers are oxidized to arylsulfonic acids, which gives an alternative route to produce arylsulfonic acids with mild conditions.