Osmium tetroxide. reaction with alkenes toxicity

Osmium tetroxide, reaction with alkenes, 235-236 toxicity of, 235 Oxalic add, structure of, 753 Oxaloacetic acid, structure of, 753 Oxetane, reaction with Grignard reagents, 680 Oxidation, 233, 348 alcohols, 623-626 aldehydes, 700-701 aldoses, 992-994 alkenes, 233-236 biological, 625-626 phenols, 631 sulfides, 670 thiols, 668... 

From the mechanism shown in Scheme 7.23, we would expect the dihydroxylation with syn-selectivity. The cyclic intermediate may be isolated in the osmium reaction, which is formed by the cycloaddition of OSO4 to the alkene. Since osmium tetroxide is highly toxic and very expensive, the reaction is performed using a catalytic amount of osmium tetroxide and an oxidizing agent such as TBHP, sodium chlorate, potassium ferricyanide or NMO, which regenerates osmium tetroxide. For example, Upjohn dihydroxylation allows the syn-selective preparation of 1,2-diols from alkenes by the use of catalytic amount of OSO4 and a stoichiometric amount of an oxidant such as NMO. 

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