Improved method for the oxidative cleavage of alkenes

14 March 2005

Side reactions are often experienced during osmium tetroxide catalysed periodate cleavage of sensitive alkenes, leading to lower yields. Workers at the University of Iowa* have found that addition of 2,6-lutidine (or sometimes pyridine) can dramatically improve yields.

In many cases, yields are more than doubled.

* W. Yu, Y. Mei, Y. Kang, Z.Hua and Z. Jin, Organic Letters, 2004, 6, 3217-3219.