Oxidation of diols and ethers by NaBrO3/NaHSO3 reagent

NaBrO3 combined with NaHSO3 was found to be an excellent oxidizing reagent of alcohols, diols, and ethers under mild conditions. A variety of aliphatic and cyclic diols were selectively oxidized with satisfactory yields to the corresponding hydroxy ketones and/or diketones, which are difficult to selectively prepare due to a concomitant formation of cleaved products. For example, 2-hydroxycyclohexanone and 1,2-cyclohexanedione were selectively formed by allowing 1,2-cyclohexanediol to react with NaBrO3/NaHSO3 reagent in a selected solvent. On the other hand, an alkyl ether, such as dioctyl ether, reacted with NaBrO3/NaHSO3 in water at room temperature to give octyl octanoate in 82% yield. The same oxidation at higher temperature (60 degrees C) produced the cr-brominated ester, octyl 2-bromooctanoate, which is considered to be formed through an alkenyl alkyl ether as the intermediate. The treatment of 1-ethoxy-1-heptene with NaBrO3/NaHSO3 afforded ethyl 2-bromoheptanoate and 2-bromoheptanoic acid as the major products.