Toxic substrates, experimental procedures

A facile method for the oxidation of alcohols to carbonyl compounds has been reported by Varma et al. using montmorillonite K 10 clay-supported iron(III) nitrate (clayfen) under solvent-free conditions [100], This MW-expedited reaction presumably proceeds via the intermediacy of nitrosonium ions. Interestingly, no carboxylic acids are formed in the oxidation of primary alcohols. The simple solvent-free experimental procedure involves mixing of neat substrates with clayfen and a brief exposure of the reaction mixture to irradiation in a MW oven for 15-60 s. This rapid, ma-nipulatively simple, inexpensive and selective procedure avoids the use of excess solvents and toxic oxidants (Scheme 6.30) [100]. Solid state use of clayfen has afforded higher yields and the amounts used are half of that used by Laszlo et al. [17,19]. 

Chromium-based oxidants are probably the most widely used of all oxidizing agents. Over the years they have been continually developed and modified to overcome the typical problems that occur during oxidation and to accept wider ranges of substrates with improved selectivities. They have been accepted readily by synthesis chemists since they are easy to handle and are often off the shelf reagents . However, they are not without their problems worit-up can be problematical overoxidation can occur, and, at all times, removal of the product from toxic chromium contaminants is a concern, especially with respect to large scale preparations. In an attempt to circumvent these problems the trend has been to develop the use of catalytic and/or supported reagents. Hiis review is concerned for the most part with the ai lica-tions and limitations of more recent chromium(VI) oxidants. Several other comprehensive reviews have appeared in this area and should be consulted for more detailed descriptions of older methods, chro-mium(V) oxidants, mechanism of oxidation and for typical experimental procedures. 

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