Minimisation of E-Factor in the synthesis of N-hydroxylamines: the role of silver(i)-based coordination polymers

Abstract

Among four different 2-D polymeric silver(I)–bpfb assemblies synthesized, [Ag(μ-bpfb)(N₃)]_n (4c) having an azide anion was shown to be the best catalyst for the partial oxidation of primary amines to N-monoalkylhydroxylamines with urea hydrogen peroxide (UHP). The method has supplied the minimum E-Factor (which is in the range for bulk chemicals) amongst all of the presented methods. More importantly, the catalyst could be easily recovered and reused for six reaction cycles without any loss of activity.