Abstract
Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is a by-product of the wood industry. It is widely used as a solvent in organic synthesis and in the pharmaceutical industry because of its low cost, stability, and low toxicity. This chapter summarizes the cutting-edge research on the use of this versatile reagent in organic synthesis. It discusses the name reactions associated with DMSO; DMSO as a reagent; and DMSO as a multifunctional catalyst/reagent in self-sorting reaction systems. The chapter also discusses the mechanistic aspects and information on possible reaction pathways. Name reactions associated with DMSO can be divided into two categories: activated DMSO-mediated dehydrogenation oxidations such as Swern, Parikh Doering, and Pfitzner Moffatt oxidations; and oxygen-adding oxidations such as the Kornblum oxidation in which DMSO acts as an oxygen source. Modern organic synthesis requires the use of simple solvents and oxidants, and DMSO can be used as a source of oxygen atoms, sulphur atoms, or one-carbon units.
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