Oxidative Cleavage of Methyl Ethers Using the HOF・CH3CN Complex

Shlomo Rozen*, Sharon Dayan, Yifat Bareket

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

28 Scopus citations

Abstract

HOF・CH3CN complex, made easily by bubbling fluorine diluted with nitrogen through aqueous acetonitrile, proved to be a suitable oxidizer for various methyl ethers. Secondary ethers are oxidized to ketones and even to lactones via Baeyer-Villiger type of oxidation. The reaction is ionic, and the reagent's electrophilic oxygen attacks the relatively electron rich C-H bond a to the ether moiety. It was found that the more sterically hindered is the C-H bond in question, the slower the reaction. In cases where this bond is an electron poor one as in benzoin methyl ether (9), no reaction takes place. When labeled H18OF-CH3CN is used on a 160 methyl ether, the resulting ketone possesses only the heavier oxygen isotope. Primary methyl ethers are somewhat slower to react, but they too were oxidized in very good yields to acids via the corresponding aldehydes.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)8267-8269
Number of pages3
JournalJournal of Organic Chemistry
Volume60
Issue number25
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Dec 1995

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