Octane → 1-Octyloxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidin-4-ol

Participants

Reaction Steps

A solution of 121.8 grams (946 mmol) of 70% aqueous tert-butyl hydroperoxide is added over a 3-hour period to a mixture of 101.5 grams (367 mmol) of 4-benzoyloxy-1-oxyl-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine, 1.3 gram of molybdenum trioxide, and 650 ml of n-octane that is preheated to 120° C. The reaction mixture is maintained at reflux temperature throughout the addition, and water is collected in a Dean-Stark trap. The reaction mixture is heated at reflux for 8.5 hours after the addition is complete in order to discharge the red color of the nitroxyl starting material. The crude reaction mixture is purified by flash chromatography (50:1 heptane:ethyl acetate) and then hydrolyzed using potassium hydroxide in ethanol to obtain the title compound as a colorless oil.

Provenance & Evidence