Metal-Free Solvent Promoted Oxidation of Benzylic Secondary Amines to Nitrones with H2O2

An environmentally benign protocol for the generation of nitrones from benzylic secondary amines via catalyst-free oxidation of secondary amines using H2O2 in MeOH or CH3CN is described. This methodology provides a selective access to a variety of C-aryl nitrones in yields of 60 to 93%. Several studies have been performed to shed light on the reaction mechanism and the role of the solvent.

Automated summary

An environmentally friendly protocol for the generation of C-aryl nitrones from benzylic secondary amines using catalyst-free oxidation with H2O2 in MeOH or CH3CN is described. This method provides a selective access to a variety of C-aryl nitrones with yields ranging from 60% to 93%. Several studies have been conducted to elucidate the reaction mechanism and the role of the solvent.