Catalytic oxidation of imines based on methyltrioxorhenium/urea hydrogen peroxide: A mild and easy chemo- and regioselective entry to nitrones

The first successful catalytic oxidation procedure for the chemoselective conversion of imines to nitrones is reported. The reaction is general, high yielding, and user and environmentally friendly, and furnishes a solution to the yet unanswered issue of regioselective access to nitrones by oxidation of nitrogen derivatives.