Accession Number:

AD0625414

Title:

DEOXYGENATION REACTIONS OF AMINE OXIDES AND SULFOXIDES.

Descriptive Note:

Completed project summary,

Corporate Author:

PITTSBURGH UNIV PA

Personal Author(s):

• Cohen,Theodore

Report Date:

1965-01-01

Pagination or Media Count:

14.0

Abstract:

The objective of this research was to determine the scope and nature of the reactions of pyridine N-oxide with electrophiles. A second purpose became the study of the reaction of dimethylsulfoxide with epoxides. A new synthesis of alpha-hydroxyaldehydes and ketones was discovered. It involves the oxidation of epoxides by dimethylsulfoxide, which is used as solvent. The discovery of the oxidation of carboxylic acids by pyridine N-oxides to form aldehydes and ketones led to the enunciation of a new mechanistic concept involving activation of carboxylic acids by pyridine N-oxide toward nucleophilic attack at the alpha-position. Side products of this novel 4-electron decarboxylative oxidation, when phenylacetic acid is used, are diphenylmaleic anhydride, mandelic acid acetate and phenylglyoxylic acid. Evidence was adduced that the currently accepted radical-pair mechanism for the production of esters in the reaction of acetic anhydride with 2- and 4-picoline N-oxide is probably incorrect. Although the attempted oxidation of naphthoquinone with pyridine N-oxide was apparently unsuccessful, interesting results have evolved out of a study of the structure and unusual physical properties of the hydrazone of this dehydrodimer.

Descriptors:

• *SULFOXIDES
• OXIDATION REDUCTION REACTIONS
• OXIDES
• ALDEHYDES
• KETONES
• ACETIC ACID
• ACETIC ANHYDRIDE
• QUINONES
• HYDRAZONES
• PYRIDINES
• OXYGEN HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS

Subject Categories:

• Organic Chemistry

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE