Synthesis, Characterization, X-ray Structural Analysis and Study of Oxidative Properties of Tetraethylammonium Chlorochromate

Abstract

Tetraethylammonium chlorochromate(VI), Et4N[CrO3Cl] is easily synthesized in nearly quantitative yield using a direct reaction of chromium(VI) oxide and tetraethylammonium chloride and characterized by elemental analysis, IR, UV/Visible, 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR techniques and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis (monoclinic system, space group C2(#5), with a = 12.023(3), b = 7.998(2), c = 14.527(4) Å, β = 114.187(4)°, V = 1274.4(6) Å3 and Z = 4). X-ray data determined the CH ··· O hydrogen bond that forms between the ethyl hydrogen of the cation and oxygen of the anion. This compound is a versatile reagent for efficient and selective oxidation of organic substrates, in particular for alcohols to their corresponding aldehydes or ketones, under mild conditions.