An environmentally benign [Cu(I)]-catalyzed oxidation of activated (benzylic/allylic) alcohols to the corresponding carbonyl compounds is presented. Interestingly, the reaction was also compatible with benzylic alcohols containing ortho-bromo substituents on the aromatic ring without competing with the expected intermolecular Buchwald coupling. Significantly, the catalytic system enables the synthesis of cinnamate-esters in a sequential domino one-pot fashion via oxidation followed by Wittig-Horner protocol. Copyright © 2014 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.