Synthesis of iminopolyols via Henry reaction: a short route to the α-manno- sidase inhibitor 1,4-dideoxy-1,4-imino-D-mannitol and to amino analogues†,1
Reaction of urea-hydrogen peroxide complex with trifluoroaceticanhydride in acetonitrile at 0°C affords in a safe and easy fashion anhydrous solutions of peroxytrifluoroacetic acid. These can be used to oxidize aldoximes to nitroalkanes in good yields. Ketoximes fail to react in these conditions and are cleaved to the parent carbonyl compounds.