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 alcohol (1 eq.) in dry DCM (10 Vol) at 0 oC was added pyridine (1.5 eq.), few drops of DMAP (1.2 eq.) and Trifluoromethanesulfonic anhydride (triflic anhydride, 1.2 eq.) and stirred at 0 oC for 4 h (If the reaction does not proceed, it shall be brought to room temperature and stirred for 2 h). The reaction is monitored by TLC. After the completion of the reaction, The organic layer is diluted with CH2Cl2 (10 Vol) and then successively washed with 10 % citric acid (10 Vol), water (10 Vol x 2), NaHCO3 solution and brine solution. The resultant organic layer is dried using sodium sulphate, filtered and concentrated under reduced pressure to get the desired compound.
Note:
- The preferable solvent is DCM. THF shall also be used.
Typical Procedure:
WO2010045258, page No. 263
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: