Aerobic oxidation of hydroxylamines with nanoporous gold catalyst as an efficient synthetic method of nitrones

A facile preparation of nitrones has been achieved by use of unsupported nanoporous gold (AuNPore) as a heterogeneous catalyst through aerobic oxidation of N,N-disubstituted hydroxylamines with molecular oxygen as an oxidizing agent under mild conditions. A variety of amines were oxidized to the corresponding nitrones in high chemical yields. The catalyst is robust enough to be reused without leaching.

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