SELECTIVE OXIDATION PROCESS WITH ENHANCED SAFETY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Hypervalent iodine (V) compounds are known to be useful oxidizing agents for the conversion of primary and secondary alcohols to their corresponding aldehydes and ketones, e. g. De Munari, S. et a/, Journal of Organic Chemistry, 1996, 61, pp. 9272-9279. Dess-Martin periodinane (DMP), 1,1, 1-triacetoxy-1,1-dihydro- 1, 2-benziodoxol-3 (1 H) -one, is often the reagent of choice for the oxidation of primary and secondary alcohols due to mild reaction conditions (room temperature and either slightly acidic or neutral pH) which are especially suitable for substrates which contain sensitive functional groups. However, DMP explodes violently upon heating under confinement (Chemical & Engineering News, July 16,1990, p. 3). The hazardous explosive properties of DMP make its use on a manufacturing scale prohibitively dangerous.

It remains a problem to provide a selective and safe oxidation process for the conversion of a primary or secondary alcohol to the corresponding aldehyde or ketone.

There remains the further problem to provide an oxidation process which affords high product yields.

There remains the further problem to provide a composition useful in the process of this invention.

It is a feature of this invention that the oxidizing agent may be used in situ, thereby eliminating the need for additional separation or isolation steps.

These and other objects and features of the invention will become more apparent from the detailed description set forth herein below.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a safe and effective process for the selective oxidation of a primary or secondary alcohol to the corresponding aldehyde or ketone which process comprises reacting said alcohol with a solution containing an anhydride of the formula (RCO) 20 and a trialkanoyl periodinane compound of formula I wherein R is C2-C4 alkyl. Preferably, R is ethyl or n-propyl.

The present invention also provides a composition useful in the process of the invention, which composition comprises a mixture of an anhydride of the formula (RCO) 20 and a trialkanoyl periodinane compound of formula I preferably dissolved in a suitable solvent, e. g. , an aromatic hydrocarbon such as toluene.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Dess-Martin periodinane (DMP), 1,1, 1-triacetoxy-1,1-dihydro-1, 2- benziodoxol-3 (1 H)-one, is an organoiodine compound which is useful for the facile and efficient oxidation of primary alcohols to aldehydes and secondary alcohols to ketones (Journal of Organic Chemistry, 1983, 48,4155-4156). Although the use of DMP avoids some common difficulties encountered in using other procedures for oxidizing alcohols such as long reaction times, difficult workup procedures or the need to use a large excess of the oxidizing agent, the propensity of DMP to explode violently on heating under confinement prohibits its use on a commercial manufacturing scale.

Surprisingly, it has now been found that an anhydride solution of a trialkanoyl periodinane compound of formula I may be used to selectively oxidize a primary or secondary alcohol to the corresponding aldehyde or ketone under mild reaction conditions, with high product yield and without the hazardous chemical properties (heat/shock sensitive) associated with DMP.

Although the process of the invention is suitable for the oxidation of any primary or secondary alcohol, it is particularly suitable for substrates which contain sensitive functional groups. For example, macrolide compounds, such as 5- { [ (p- nitrophenyl)-carbonyl] oxy}-F28249alpha (5-pnb-F28249alpha), may be oxidized to their corresponding ketones via the inventive process on a manufacturing scale with significantly enhanced product yield. In the case of 5-pnb-F28249alpha, the 23-keto product may then be converted to the potent endectocidal agent, moxidectin. The

process is described in US 4,988, 824. The oxidation step of the process is shown in flow diagram 1.

FLOW DIAGRAM I In a preferred embodiment of this invention, a solution containing an anhydride of formula (RCO) 20 and a trialkanoyl periodinane compound of formula I in an amount of about 2 mol% to 15 mol% relative to the anhydride, preferably about 4 mol% to 6 mol% relative to the anhydride, more preferably about 5 mol% relative to the anhydride, is admixed with a primary or secondary alcohol, optionally in the presence of a solvent at room temperature until oxidation is complete. Reaction times for the process of the invention may vary according to the stereochemical character of the alcohol, the concentration of the alcohol, or the like ; in general, reaction times of one hour or less are sufficient to complete the oxidation. For optimum product yield, at least 1.0, preferably about 1.0-1. 5 equivalents of the formula I compound relative to the alcohol to be oxidized are used in the inventive process.

In a highly preferred embodiment of the invention, the anhydride and the trialkanoyl periodinane are dissolved in toluene, although other suitable solvents may be used, particularly other aromatic hydrocarbons, preferably containing 6-12 carbon atoms. A solvent is suitable if it dissolves the anhydride and the trialkanoyl periodinane compound, and does not adversely affect or interfere with the oxidation

reaction. Those skilled in the art will be able to readily identify suitable solvents without undue experimentation.

It is highly preferred that the R group in the anhydride and the trialkanoyl periodinane compound is ethyl or n-propyl.

The 1,1, 1-trialkanoyl periodinane of formula I may be prepared by conversion of 1-hydroxy-1, 2-benziodoxol-3 (1 H) one 1-oxide (formula 11) according to the following reaction, in which PTSA represents p-toluenesulfonic acid: The compound of formula I does not need to be isolated, but may be used to oxidize alcohols in the anhydride solution. This avoids the extra work and expense of isolating the compound, as well as any concerns about instability of the compound in its solid state.

In order to facilitate a further understanding of the invention, the following examples are presented primarily for the purpose of illustrating more specific details thereof. The invention is not to be limited thereby except as defined in the claims.

Unless otherwise noted, all parts are parts by weight. The terms HPLC and HNMR designate high performance chromatography and proton nuclear magnetic resonance, respectively.

EXAMPLE 1 Preparation of 1. 1. 1-Tripropionyloxy-1, 1-dihydro-1. 2-benziodoxol-3 (1H)-one A stirred mixture of 1-hydroxy-1, 2-benziodoxol-3 (1H)-one 1-oxide (9. 33g, 0.033 mol), propionic anhydride (51.3g, 0.396 mol) and p-toluenesulfonic acid (0.045g) is heated under nitrogen at 80°C for 5h, cooled to room temperature and concentrated in vacuo. The resultant residue is washed with ether and air-dried to give the title product as a white solid, 13. 84g, identified by HNMR analysis.

EXAMPLE 2 Preparation of 1. 1, 1-tri-n-butanovioxy-1. 1-dihvdro-1. 2-benziodoxol-3 (1H)-one A stirred mixture of 1-hydroxy-1, 2-benziodoxol-3 (1 H)-one 1-oxide (9.33g, 0.033 mol), butyric anhydride (62.65g, 0.396 mol) and p-toluenesulfonic acid (0.045g) is heated under nitrogen at 80°C for 5h and cooled to room temperature. The resultant solution of the title product in butyric anhydride is used as is in Example 3.

EXAMPLE 3 The Selective Oxidation of a Primary or Secondary Alcohol to the Correspondina Aldehyde or Ketone. pur II O/p RnO I O\ o OH \o (X 0 </ketone alcohol (I)

A mixture of the alcohol, e. g., cyclohexanol (14.3 mmol) or 5- [(p- nitrophenyl) carbonyl] oxy}-F28249alpha (13. 1 mmol), and an anhydride solution of a 1,1, 1-trialkanoyloxy-1, 1-dihydro-1, 2-benziodoxol-3 (1H)-one (15.7 mmol) as described in Example 2 is stirred under nitrogen at room temperature. The reaction progress is monitored by HPLC. When the conversion is complete, the reaction is quenched with an aqueous solution of NaHCO3/Na2S2O3 and stirred for 10 minutes. The phases are separated; the organic phase is filtered and the product is identified by HPLC. The process conditions and product yields are shown in Table I.

TABLE I 1° zr R /0 X m° C OH I our a ketone alcohol 0 (I)

Equv. Of Time % Alcohol R (I) h Yield Cyclohexanol C2H5 1.1 0.5 95 Cyclohexanol C3H7 1.1 0.5 95 n-Octanol C2H5 1.1 0.5 97 n-Octanol C3H7 1.1 0.5 97 Cyclooctanol C2H5 1.1 0.5 100 Cyclooctanol C3H7 1.1 0.5 100 Benzyl alcohol C2H5 1.1 0.5 94 Benzyl alcohol C3H7 1.1 0.5 94 2, 5-Dimethoxybenzyl C2H5 1.1 0.3 96 alcohol 2, 5-Dimethoxybenzyl C3H7 1.1 0.3 96 alcohol TABLE I (Con't) Zut 0/10 '0-0 OH 11 ketone °-' alcohol 0 (I)

Equv. Of Time % Alcohol R (I) h Yield 3,4, 5-Trimethoxy- C2H5 1.1 0.3 95 benzyl alcohol 3,4, 5-Trimethoxy- C2H5 1.1 0.3 95 benzyl alcohol 5-{[(p-Nitrophenyl)- C2H5 1.2 0.5 80 carbonyl] oxy}-F28249 alpha 5-{[(p-Nitrophenyl)- C3H7 1.2 0.5 88 carbonyl] oxy}-F28249 alpha