The Reaction of Cu+-O2 and Cu2+-Ascorbic Acid-O2 with Dimethyl Sulfoxide. The Effect of Solvent

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/jo00240a026

The reaction of Cu⁺-O2 and Cu²⁺-ascorbic acid-O2 with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) was investigated.The products of these reactions are CH4 and C2H6 in high yields.The ratio of ethane to methane varies greatly from about 8 to 0.01 depending on the concentration of Cu⁺, O2, ascorbic acid, oxalic acid, mineral acids, and solvent.With a polar aprotic solvent like pure DMSO we observe a high C2H6/CH4 ratio, while with a polar protic solvent like water a low C2H6/CH4 ratio is observed.This solvent effects is consistent with the intermediate formation of a (Cu^+.CH3) complex, which in turn reacts in protic solvents or in the presence of mineral acids to give mainly CH4 and mainly C2H6 in aprotic solvents.