Methylene groups, nitrosation oxidation

The three preparative methods which are illustrated in this section are (a) the oxidation, or (b) the nitrosation, of the a-methylene group in a symmetrical ketone or an aryl alkyl ketone (Expts 5.99 and 5.100), and (c) the oxidation of alkynes under PTC conditions (Expt 5.101). 

Nitrosobenzene, CjHsNO, which is obtained by the oxidation of phenylhydroxylamine, and p>nitrosodimethylaniline, p-(CH3)2NCjH4NO, which is easily prepared by the nitrosation of dimethylaniline, are fairly specific oxidizing agents for the preparation of aromatic aldehydes from benzyl halides or tosylates and of a-dicarbonyl compounds from from a-halo ketones [984, 985]. Also, a methylene group flanked by two carbonyls can be oxidized to a carbonyl group by nitrosodimethylaniline [986]. Pyridine is frequently used to form quaternary pyridinium salts from reactive halides prior to their oxidation to aromatic aldehydes, a-ketoaldehydes, or a-diketones [984] (equations 22 and 23). 

The hydroxyimino group attached to carbon (C=NOH) may be converted into an amino group by way of the intermediate hydroxyamino or imino group. The reduction of oximes can be conducted so as to yield (1) a synthesis of amines from carbonyl compounds, (2) introduction of amino groups into a compound containing active methylene groups (by way of the isonitroso compounds obtained by nitrosation), or (3) production of amines from the adducts of nitrogen oxides or nitrosyl chloride to olefins. 

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