Dicyclohexylcarbodiimide, DMSO Pfitzner-Moffatt oxidations

Different electrophiles have been used to effect this oxidation. For example, in Pfitzner-Moffatt oxidation, alcohols are oxidized to aldehydes and ketones by the DMSO and DCC (dicyclohexylcarbodiimide). The resulting alkoxysulfonium ylide C rearranges to generate aldehydes and ketones (Scheme 7.6). 

The Pfitzner-Moffatt oxidation utilises 1,3-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide as the DMSO activator in the presence of acid to afford oxidation of alcohols to carbonyls.2,24,25 Initial work was carried out on steroids and thymidine residues although the procedure has since been found to be applicable to a large range of alcohols. In the following example, the Pfitzner-Moffatt method was used as an alternative to the Swem reaction which had resulted in the formation of an unwanted a-chloroketone (see later).26 Other oxidation procedures were attempted (PDC, PCC, Dess-Martin periodinane) however the Pfitzner-Moffatt gave the best, albeit modest, yield. 

Other oxidation reactions using DMSO as an oxidant include the Pfitzner-Moffatt Oxidation (DMSO/dicyclohexylcarbodiimide), Swem oxidation (DMSO/oxalyl chloride or trifluoroacetic anhydride), Onodera oxidation (DMSO/phosphorus pentoxide), Parikh-Doering Oxidation (DMSO/pyridine-sulfur trioxide), Corey-Kim Oxidation (dimethyl sulfide/Ai-chlorosuccinimide), and Liu oxidation (DMSO/phenyl dichlorophosphate). 

Note Pfitzner-Moffatt reaction represents oxidation of primaiy and secondary alcohols by dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) activated with carbodiimides, usually dicyclohexylcarbodiimide (DCC). Intermediary alkoxysulfonium ylides rearrange to aldehydes or ketones. This reaction yields urea as a by-product that is difficult to... 

---