Oxidation of ellipticine

The UV spectrum (Tmax 240, 268, 278, 288, 295, and 330 nm) of N-oxyellipticine (240) resembled that of ellipticine (228) (see Scheme 2.56), indicating a similar pyrido[4,3-l ]carbazole framework (222). Comparison of the mass spectrum of N-oxyellipticine at m/z 262 (M" ), with that of ellipticine (228) show only the presence of an additional oxygen as an N-oxy function. This conclusion was supported by comparison with the spectral data of synthetic Af-oxyellipticine, obtained by oxidation of ellipticine (228) with H2O2 in dichloromethane, and by reduction of Af-oxyellipticine with zinc to ellipticine. Based on these comparisons. 

A patent describes the oxidation of naphthalene to naphthoquinone in 92% yield with ceric ions. 3 jhe interest in this paper is in the large scale of the preparation, since 300 kg of naphthalene were used. Sonication increases the conversion yield and facilitates the purification of the final product. On a quite different scale, the oxidation of ellipticine with Fr my s salt was studied under various conditions (p. 374). Even if still medium, the sonochemical yield is about... 

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