Phenols potassium nitrosodisulfonate

Various 2,6-di8ubstituted p-benzoquinones have been prepared by oxidation of the corresponding 2,6-disubstituted phenols with potassium nitrosodisulfonate or lead dioxide in formic acid. Oxidative coupling of 2,6-disubstituted phenols to poly-2,6-disubstituted phenylene ethers followed by treatment of the polymers in acetic acid with lead dioxide is reported to give low yields of the corresponding 2,6-disubstituted p-benzoquinones. 

Uncondensed phenolic units in lignin have been estimated by a color reaction based on oxidation with potassium nitrosodisulfonate (Fremy s salt) (Adler and Lundquist 1961) as illustrated below ... 

Quinones can he prepared hy the oxidation of phenols, dihydroxy-henzenes, dimethoxyhenzenes and anilines. For example, 1,4-dihydroxy-henzene (hydroquinone) can he oxidized in good yield using sodium chlorate in dilute sulfuric acid in the presence of vanadium pentoxide and also hy manganese dioxide and sulfuric acid and hy chromic acid. Other reagents which convert hydroquinones to quinones include Fremy s salt [potassium nitrosodisulfonate, (KS03)2N0] and cerium(IV) ammonium nitrate [CAN, Ce(NH4)2(N03)J. 

Potassium nitrosodisulfonate (Fremy salt), 0N(S03K)2, is a free radical capable of converting phenols [487, 488, 489 and aromatic amines [490 into quinones. 

Oxidation of phenols to quinones. Forrester and Thompson2 noted that potassium nitrosodisulfonate, an inorganic radical useful for the oxidation of phenols, amines,... 

Teuber and his co-workers have found that monohydric phenols and naph-thols can be converted into quinones by potassium nitrosodisulfonate.384 When the p ra-position is unoccupied, use of 2 moles of N0(S03K)2 per mole usually gives p-quinones phenol gives p-benzoquinone, and 1-naphthol gives... 

Ellipticine (E) 1 is an indolic alkaloid with antitumor activity. Some of its phenolic derivatives as N-methyl-9-hydroxyellipticine (Celiptinium), obtained from 9-hydroxy ellipticine (9-OH E), exhibit high cytotoxicity. 38 Syntheses of 9-OH E are not satisfactory considering yields and cost, justifying the attempts at the direct conversion of E to 9-OH E via 9-oxoellipticine (9-0X0 E). Potassium nitrosodisulfonate (Fremy s salt), a valuable oxidant for the synthesis of quinone-imine from heterocyclic amines,139 was used. Under these conditions the conversion of E to 9-0X0 E was observed for the first time. Its reduction to 9-OH E is then easily achieved with ascorbic acid. The radical nature of Fremy s salt [ 0-N(S03K)2] led us to carry out the oxidation reaction under sonication in order to increase the yields via an easier electron transfer.1 1... 

Phenols don t undergo oxidation in the same way that alcohols do because they don t have a hydrogen atom on the hydroxyl-bearing carbon. Instead, oxidation of a phenol yields a cyclohexa-2,5-diene-l,4-dione, or quinone. The most commonly used oxidant is Fremy s salt [potassium nitrosodisulfonate, (KSOalaNO], and the reaction takes place through a radical mechanism. 

Phenols are aromatic counterparts of alcohols but are much more acidic (pkia 10) because their anions are resonance stabilized by delocalization of the negative charge into the aromatic ring. Phenols can he oxidized to quinones by reaction with Fremy s salt (potassium nitrosodisulfonate), and quinones can he reduced to hydroquinones by reaction with NaBH4. 

The nitrosodisulfonate salts, particularly the dipotassium salt called Fremy s salt, are useful reagents for the selective oxidation of phenols and aromatic amines to quinones (the Teuber reaction). - Dipotassium nitrosodisulfonate has been prepared by the oxidation of a hydroxylaminedisulfonate salt with potassium permanganate, " with lead dioxide, or by electrolysis. This salt is also available commercially. The present procedure illustrates the electrolytic oxidation to form an alkaline aqueous solution of the relatively soluble disodium nitrosodisulfonate. This procedure avoids a preliminary filtration which is required to remove manganese dioxide formed when potassium permanganate is used as the oxidant. " ... 

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