On the preparation of amine N-oxides by using dioxiranes

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/S0040-4020(97)10048-5

The reaction of heterocyclic aromatic amines, anilines and tertiary amines with dimethyldioxirane (DMD) was examined. Treatment of heterocyclic aromatic amines and anilines with a slight excess of DMD at 0°C afforded the corresponding N-oxides in quantitative conversion yields. In addition, the oxidation was chemoselective in the presence of carbon-carbon double bonds. On the other hand, most of the tertiary amines assayed did afford also quantitative yields of the corresponding N. oxides, although reaction conditions, in particular regarding the amount of DMD required, depended on each substrate. Additional studies carried out on selected substrates suggested that certain N-oxides derived from tertiary amines deactivate DMD.