Reaction & Reagents info
- Swern Oxidation (DMSO, Oxalyl chloride) is a mild oxidizing system that converts primary alcohol to aldehyde and secondary alcohol to ketone
- It is one of the series of oxidations involving DMSO (refer to DMSO-activated oxidations)
Advantages
- Inexpensive oxidation method on manufacturing scale
- Also, it is less toxic, compared to chromium-based alternatives (PCC and PDC)
Disadvantages
- The liberation of gases viz., malodrous dimethylsulphide (Me2S) and poisonous carbon monoxide (CO) are to be handled appropriately
- It is important to maintain the reaction mixture at -78 oC. If the temperature is not maintained, there is a possibility of formation of mixed thioacetals (see mechanism)
Useful Links on Reagent & Reaction:
- DMSO –Oxalyl Chloride (Swern Oxidation) (Reagent Guide, ACS Green Chemistry Institute) – Green Chemistry info.
- Swern oxidation (SynArchive) – Excellent compilation of reaction schemes with references
Mechanism
General Oxidation Mechanism
DMSO, as such, is not a good oxidising agent. However, it needs to be activated by an activator [such as (COCl)2 in Swern Oxidation, DCC in Moffatt oxidation] so that DMSO shall act effective oxidising agent (refer to DMSO-activated Oxidations)
Activation of DMSO by Oxalyl Chloride
Swern Oxidation
Formation of side product in Swern Oxidation
In Swern oxidation employing (COCl)2, one mole each of CO, CO2 and Me2S (all gaseous products) are released. HCl gets converted to NEt3.HCl during the reaction
It is important to maintain the reaction mixture at -78 oC. If the temperature is not maintained, there is a possibility of formation of mixed thioacetals
Image from “chemistryworld.com”
Additional details
General Procedure:
To a solution of carboxylic acid (1 eq.) in alcohol (10 Vol) at 0 oC is added few drops of Conc. H2SO4 (about 5 drops) and stirred at room temperature for 4 h. The reaction is monitored by TLC. If the reaction does not proceed, it shall be refluxed for 4 to 6 h. After the completion of the reaction, the reaction mixture is distilled off and diluted with DCM or EtOAc. The organic layer is then successively washed with water (10 Vol x 2), and brine solution, dried over sodium sulphate, filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure. The crude product is purified by column chromatography
Note:
- This reaction is very useful, if alcohol is inexpensive and commercially available. Methyl and Ethyl esters could be prepared easily by this method
- In place of Conc. H2SO4, PTSA could also be used
- This reaction is in equilibrium, though is more favoured. Water (i.e. moisture) tends to hydrolyze the ester back to acid. In order to drive it to the forward reaction, high-temperature reflux, Dean-Stark apparatus and molecular sieves are usually used
Typical Procedure:
WO2010038081, page No. 203
Swern oxidation could be carried out on large-scale. However, the reaction involves the liberation of 1 eq. each of the gases such as Me2S (dimethylsulphide), CO (carbon monoxide), CO2. Appropriate safety controls are to be ensured while performing manufacturing. During work-up, HCl gets converted to amine salt (such as NEt3.HCl).
- Swern Oxidation is one of the inexpensive methods to manufacture aldehydes or ketones from Alcohols
- The liberation of gases viz., malodrous dimethylsulphide (Me2S), poisonous carbon monoxide (CO) and CO2 are to be handled appropriately
- It is important to maintain the reaction mixture at -78 oC. If the temperature is not maintained, there is a possibility of formation of mixed thioacetals (see mechanism in General Info section)
Scale-Up Typical Procedure:
- An Improved and Efficient Process for the Production of Donepezil Hydrochloride (OPRD, 2008) – 4 Kg batch; 3.5 Kg of DMSO & 3.7 Kg of (COCl)2 have been used
- Convergent Catalytic Asymmetric Synthesis of Camptothecin Analog GI147211C (Tetrahedron, 1997) – 100 g batch
Green Chemistry Aspects: