HOF·CH3CN, an excellent oxygen transfer agent

Abstract

A short review on the new oxygen transfer agent HOF·CH3CN is presented. Although very potent, this reagent is used under very mild reaction conditions, a fact that enables it to perform transformations of which other reagents are incapable. It epoxidize any double bond, including very deactivated ones, in short reaction times and high yields. It also efficiently oxidizes amines to nitro derivatives and transform sulfides, even highly deactivated ones, into the corresponding sulfones. It is also useful for hydroxylation α to a carbonyl of many ketones, esters and acids. HOF·CH3CN is easily prepared by bubbling mixtures of fluorine and nitrogen through aqueous acetonitrile [1-12]. © 1999 IUPAC.