Oxidations of Organic Compounds with Osmium Tetroxide

Abstract

Metal compounds like potassium permanganate, hexacyanoferrate(III), ruthenium tetroxide, and osmium tetroxide are widely employed as oxidants in an alkaline medium. Apart from synthetic applications in the laboratory these oxidants are also important in industrial syntheses. Osmium tetroxide is the oldest compound and has been generally used for hydroxylation of olefins. Ruthenium tetroxide reacts in the same way as a vigorous oxidant even under mild conditions.