Synthesis 2011(13): 2091-2100  
DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1260027
PAPER
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart ˙ New York

Selective Synthesis of Unsymmetrical Peroxides: Transition-Metal-Catalyzed Oxidation of Malononitrile and Cyanoacetic Ester Derivatives by tert-Butyl Hydroperoxide at the α-Position

Alexander O. Terent’ev*a, Dmitry A. Borisova, Vsevolod V. Semenova, Vladimir V. Chernyshevb,c, Valery M. Dembitskyd, Gennady I. Nikishin*a
a N.D. Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 47 Leninsky prosp., 119991 Moscow, Russian Federation
Fax: +7(499)1355328; e-Mail: terentev@ioc.ac.ru;
b Department of Chemistry, , Moscow State University, 119992 Moscow, Russian Federation
c A.N. Frumkin Institute of Physical Chemistry and Electrochemistry, 31 Leninsky prosp., 119991 Moscow, Russian Federation
d Institute for Drug Research, P.O. Box 12065, Hebrew University, Jerusalem 91120, Israel
Further Information

Publication History

Received 2 March 2011
Publication Date:
05 May 2011 (online)

Abstract

A novel method was developed for the selective oxidation of α-monosubstituted malononitrile and cyanoacetic ester derivatives at the α-position based on transition-metal-catalyzed reaction (Cu, Fe, Mn, Co) with tert-butyl hydroperoxide giving unsymmetrical peroxides in 63-94% yields. The method is facile, does not require large excesses of reagents, and is amenable to gram-scale synthesis.