Direct Oxidation of Arenes to Arene Oxides by 2-Nitrobenzene Peroxysulfur Intermediate Generated from 2-Nitrobenzenesulfonyl Chloride and Superoxide

Article abstract of DOI:10.1246/cl.1988.561

Acenaphthylene, phenanthrene, and pyrene, which are inert with superoxide itself, were readily oxidized to the corresponding arene oxides by a 2-nitrobenzene sulfonyl-peroxyl radical intermediate (A) generated from 2-nitrobenzenesulfonyl chloride and potassium superoxide in polar aprotic solvents such as acetonitrile, nitromethane, and dimethylformamide under mild conditions.