Liquid Phase Oxidation of Alkenes with Nitrous Oxide to Carbonyl Compounds

Abstract A variety of substrates including linear, cyclic, heterocyclic alkenes and their derivatives were tested in the liquid phase non‐catalytic oxidation with nitrous oxide (N 2 O). The structure and composition of the alkenes have a significant effect on the reaction selectivity. With many alkenes, N 2 O oxidation provides a selective way for the preparation of carbonyl compounds. The generation of carbene (or diazomethane) species is a remarkable feature of the oxidation of terminal alkenes.