Alcohols ruthenium tetroxide

COH (polyvinyl alcohol) Ruthenium tetroxide Silver sulfide... 

The conversion of primary alcohols and aldehydes into carboxylic acids is generally possible with all strong oxidants. Silver(II) oxide in THF/water is particularly useful as a neutral oxidant (E.J. Corey, 1968 A). The direct conversion of primary alcohols into carboxylic esters is achieved with MnOj in the presence of hydrogen cyanide and alcohols (E.J. Corey, 1968 A,D). The remarkably smooth oxidation of ethers to esters by ruthenium tetroxide has been employed quite often (D.G. Lee, 1973). Dibutyl ether affords butyl butanoate, and tetra-hydrofuran yields butyrolactone almost quantitatively. More complex educts also give acceptable yields (M.E. Wolff, 1963). 

Another reagent that finds application of oxidations of alcohols to ketones is ruthenium tetroxide. The oxidations are typically carried out using a catalytic amount of the ruthenium source, e.g., RuC13, with NaI04 or NaOCl as the stoichiometric oxidant.16 Acetonitrile is a favorable solvent because of its ability to stabilize the ruthenium species that are present.17 For example, the oxidation of 1 to 2 was successfully achieved with this reagent after a number of other methods failed. 

Ruthenium tetroxide is a potent oxidant, however, and it readily attacks carbon-carbon double bonds.19 Primary alcohols are oxidized to carboxylic acids, methyl ethers give methyl esters, and benzyl ethers are oxidized to benzoate esters. 

Phosphorus pentafluoride Phosphorus pentasulfide Phosphorus pentoxide Phosphorus, red Phosphorus tribromide Phosphorus bichloride Water or steam Air, alcohols, water Formic acid, HF, inorganic bases, metals, oxidants, water Organic materials Potassium, ruthenium tetroxide, sodium, water Acetic acid, aluminum, chromyl dichloride, dimethylsulfoxide, hydroxylamine, lead dioxide, nitric acid, nitrous acid, organic matter, potassium, sodium water... 

Scheme 51 Ruthenium tetroxide-mediated oxidation of alcohols.

The ruthenium tetroxide dioxide catalytic system is effective for the oxidation of alkanols, although it will also react with any alkene groups or amine substituents that are present. The catalyst can be used in aqueous acetonitrile containing tetra-butylammonium hydroxide with platinum electrodes in an undivided cell Primary alcohols are oxidised to the aldehyde and secondary alcohols to the ketone [30]. Anodic oxidation of ruthenium dioxide generates the tetroxide, which is the effective oxidising agent. 

In another procedure, oxidation is carried out in the presence of chloride ions and ruthenium dioxide [31]. Chlorine is generated at the anode and this oxidises ruthenium to the tetroxide level. The reaction medium is aqueous sodium chloride with an inert solvent for the alkanol. Ruthenium tetroxide dissolves in the organic layer and effects oxidation of the alkanol. An undivided cell is used so that the chlorine generated at the anode reacts with hydroxide generated at the cathode to form hypochlorite. Thus this electrochemical process is equivalent to the oxidation of alkanols by ruthenium dioxide and a stoichiometric amount of sodium hypochlorite. Secondary alcohols are oxidised to ketones in excellent yields. 1,4- and 1,5-Diols with at least one primary alcohol function, are oxidised to lactones while... 

Another reagent that finds application in oxidations of alcohols to ketones is ruthenium tetroxide. For example, the oxidation of 1 to 2 was successfully achieved with this reagent after a number of other methods failed. 

This cycloaddition-reduction-hydrolysis sequence was also used in an approach to butyrolactones related to ribonolactone (71). These compounds are inducing agents of hunger and satiety in mammalians. Here, a subsequent aldol 1,3-diol reduction was used, and the required carboxy function was established by oxidation of the aromatic ring with ruthenium tetroxide. Cycloaddition of benzonitrile oxide to allyl alcohol afforded an enantiomeric mixture of isoxazolines 55 and 56, which were treated with sodium hydride and methyl iodide to achieve separation by chromatography on cellulose triacetate (71). 0-Demethylation, followed by... 

Aliphatic alcohols can be oxidized to ketones, aldehydes, or carboxylic acids using oxoruthenium(IV)complexes as redox catalyst or clectrogenerated ruthenium tetroxide In the latter case, a double mediator system is used in which an electrochemically generated active chlorine species (Cl or CP ) oxidizes RuO to RUO4 (Eq. (29)). 

A vanety of secondary alcohols with terminal trifluoromethyl group are oxidized by the Dess-Martin periodinane reagent [52 53] (equation 48) Conversion of l,6-anhydro-4-0-benzyl-2 deoxy 2-fluoro-p-D-glucopyranose to the corresponding oxo derivative is earned out by ruthenium tetroxide generated in situ from ruthenium dioxide [54] (equation 49)... 

Ruthenium tetroxide readily converts secondary alcohols to the corresponding ketone, and primary alcohols to aldehydes and acids.288,294 It is particularly recommended for converting alcohols which are difficult to oxidize with other reagents, for example, the hydroxylactone (105a) in equation (112).325... 

Cyclic sulfites (68) also are opened by nucleophiles, although they are less reactive than cyclic sulfates and require higher reaction temperatures for the opening reaction. Cyclic sulfite 77, in which the hydroxamic ester is too labile to withstand ruthenium tetroxide oxidation of the sulfite, is opened to 78 in 76% yield by reaction with lithium azide in hot DMF [82], Cyclic sulfite 79 is opened with nucleophiles such as azide ion [83] or bromide ion [84], by using elevated temperatures in polar aprotic solvents. Structures such as 80 generally are not isolated but as in the case of 80 are carried on (when X = N3) to amino alcohols [83] or (when X = Br) to maleates [84] by reduction. Yields are good and for compounds unaffected by the harsher conditions needed to achieve the displacement reaction, use of the cyclic sulfite eliminates the added step of oxidation to the sulfate. 

Ruthenium tetroxide is able to oxidize a hindered secondary alcohol in the presence of several phenyl rings, ethers and an acetal.37... 

Oxidation of organic compounds by ruthenium tetraoxide has been reviewed. The oxidation of various types of organic compounds such as alkanes, alkenes, allenes, aromatic rings, alcohols, amines, and sulfides has been discussed The cyclic oxoruthe-nium(VI) diesters that are formed in the initial step of the oxidation of alkenes are considered to be intermediates in the formation of 1,2-diols.70 The development of new and selective oxidative transformations under ruthenium tetroxide catalysis during the past 10 years has been reviewed. The state of research in this field is summarized and a systematic overview of the reactivity and the reaction mode of ruthenium tetroxide is given.71... 

Ruthenium tetroxide oxidizes an alcohol to furnish an aldehyde. However, the oxidation does not stop at this stage. As soon as the corresponding aldehyde hydrate has been formed from the aldehyde at equilibrium—which is ensured by the high water content in the reaction mixture—the oxidation continues to form the carboxylic acid (example Figure 17.12). Mecha-... 

Keywords Ruthenium Ruthenium tetroxide Catalytic oxidation Alcohols Ethers... 

Ruthenium tetroxide dissolves to a slight extent in water. It is also soluble in caustic alkali, from which solutions a black precipitate of finely divided ruthenium is obtained on addition of alcohol.2 Both the aqueous solution and the pure substance itself possess an odour resembling that of ozone. Its vapour, however, is not poisonous like that of the corresponding tetroxide of osmium. In contact with alcohol the solid tetroxide is reduced with explosive violence.3-4 When covered with water, to which a concentrated solution of caesium chloride is subsequently added and a little hydrochloric acid, ruthenium tetroxide is gradually converted into the oxy-salt, Cs2Ru02CI4. The corresponding rubidium salt has likewise been prepared.3... 

The nitrosochloride is also obtained by boiling for several days with aqua regia the precipitate formed on addition of dilute alcoholic potash to ruthenium tetroxide.5... 

Decarboxylation methods failed. After several trials, excess phenylmagnesium bromide was used to form the tertiary alcohol, 459, which was treated with acetic anhydride containing a trace of sulfuric acid yielding the tetrasubstituted olefin, 460 (Scheme 56). This olefin was cleaved with ruthenium tetroxide and periodate. The resulting benzophenone was radioactive, thus the pathway to muurolene proceeds via cyclodecadiene as intermediate. 

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