Selective Synthesis of Unsymmetrical Peroxides: Transition-Metal-Catalyzed Oxidation of Malononitrile and Cyanoacetic Ester Derivatives by tert-Butyl Hydroperoxide at the α-Position
malononitrile and cyanoaceticester derivatives at the α-position based on transition-metal-catalyzed reaction (Cu, Fe, Mn, Co) with tert-butyl hydroperoxide giving unsymmetrical peroxides in 63-94% yields. The method is facile, does not require large excesses of reagents, and is amenable to gram-scale synthesis. peroxides - tert-butyl hydroperoxide - catalysis - oxidation - transition metals - malononitrile