Allylic nitroxides

N-Alkoxylamines 88 are a class of initiators in "living" radical polymerization (Scheme 14). A new methodology for their synthesis mediated by (TMSlsSiH has been developed. The method consists of the trapping of alkyl radicals generated in situ by stable nitroxide radicals. To accomplish this simple reaction sequence, an alkyl bromide or iodide 87 was treated with (TMSlsSiH in the presence of thermally generated f-BuO radicals. The reaction is not a radical chain process and stoichiometric quantities of the radical initiator are required. This method allows the generation of a variety of carbon-centered radicals such as primary, secondary, tertiary, benzylic, allylic, and a-carbonyl, which can be trapped with various nitroxides. 

An alternative approach to the oxidation of alcohols to ketones was also reported by Shea et al., who incorporated a nitroxide catalyst into a polymeric matrix [56], A polymerisable 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine (90) was derivatised as /V-allyl-amine (91), which was removed after polymerisation, leaving a catalytically active nitroxide (92) able to form stable free radicals, thereby efficiently catalysing the reaction of oxidation with yields ranging from 55 to 88%. 

Further syntheses with nitroxide. alpha.,.beta.-unsaturated aldehydes and allylic bromides... 

Oxammonium salts such as 81 are new and powerful oxidizing agents for the selective oxidation of alcohols to aldehydes or ketones. 28 Such salts can be generated catalytically from small amounts of a nitro-xide in the presence of a secondary oxidation procedure, either chemical or electrochemical,. 29 or with two equivalents of acid and 2 equivalents of a nitroxide. When 81 was mixed with acetylenic alcohol 82 in dichloromethane, aldehyde 83 was isolated in 93% yield. The reaction can be monitored as the initial yellow slurry changes to a white slurry and the presence of unreacted oxidant can be checked with starch. 3l It is not necessary to use anhydrous conditions, and it was discovered that the rate of reaction was enhanced by the presence of silica gel. This reagent is compatible for the mild oxidation of many alcohols, including aliphatic primary and secondary as well as allylic and benzylic alcohols. 

A wide range of monomers and initiators has now been studied and reported. An example of the versatility of tlie nitroxide trapping technique, particularly with oxygen centred radicals, is the reaction with allyl methacrylate. In contrast with the attack on styrene, the complex pattern of initiation gave rise to a variety of products (addition, hydrogen abstraction and p-scission), which were isolated and characterized. 

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