Hero Light The Swern oxidation, developed by Kanji Omura and Daniel Swern in 1978, is a method used to oxidize primary alcohols to aldehydes and secondary alcohols to ketones using activated dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), oxalyl chloride as a oxidizing agent, triethylamine (TEA) and dichloromethane (DCM). 1 DMSO and Oxalyl chloride form a reactive salt (Lewis Acid) with the alcohol providing a good leaving group required for subsequent elimination.1

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Finding the Product for a 1° Alcohol

This section is a brief overview on how to find the product for a 1° Alcohol (Primary) using a example from a real scientific research paper.
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Propose a Mechanism.

1

Identify the Right Reagents

Hero LightDMSO is used alongside the preferred oxidizing agent Oxalyl chloride, TEA (Triethylamine) and DCM.
If you missed the Background section on the Swern Oxidation landing page, please check it out. It’s highly recommended to review the information as it covers the key characteristics the reaction and the reactants.
2

Identify the Key Features of the Compound

Alcohol TypeHero LightThese are the 3 main types of alcohols:
  • Primary
  • Secondary
  • Tertiary
Tertiary alcohols cannot go through Swern oxidation.
  • Primary alcohols can go through Swern Oxidation to become an Aldehyde.
By identifying the Alcohol Type, you now know the product to expect.
3

Identifying Side Chains and Alcohol Conversion

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Tracking Side Chains and Alcohol Conversion.

In Swern oxidation of primary alcohols, the process involves assigning one side chain (R) to understand the reaction better.

The colored side chain represents an R group that remains unchanged during the reaction. The alcohol group is selectively oxidized to form an aldehyde. For educational purposes, we conceptually assign the non-alcohol group as R (Side chain) to visualize the changes and reconstruct the molecule post-reaction.
The molecule isn’t taken apart during the reaction, but for understanding the process, we conceptually take it apart to visualize the changes. This allows for easy reconstruction of the molecule after oxidation, emphasizing the selective nature of the reaction for educational purposes.
Guide to Side Chains
  1. Assign the Side Chain (R): Identify the non-alcohol part of the molecule and assign it as the placeholder ‘R’ or side chain.
  2. Understand Its Role: This placeholder helps track the unchanged part of the molecule, aiding in visualizing the structure before and after the reaction.
  3. Focus on the Reaction Center: The primary alcohol is selectively oxidized to form an aldehyde. The placeholder shows how the structure is altered.
  4. Reassign the Side Chain: After the reaction, reattach the placeholder R to the new aldehyde, demonstrating the unchanged nature of the side chain.
Disclaimer Warning for Writing Products
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Variations on how Aldehydes may appear.

They may be differently presented in different questions as shown in the image, however they are the same structure.

Once you’ve identified the correct reaction and product, you can now proceed to doing the mechanism.

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Mechanism for 1° Alcohol

This section is a brief overview on how to perform the mechanism for a 1° Alcohol (Primary) using the example from above.
1

DMSO undergoes Resonance

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Resonance forms of DMSO.

DMSO is capable of undergoing resonance. This is important for the next step.

In the first step of Swern Oxidation, DMSO undergoes resonance to prepare the DMSO to perform a nucleophilic attack on Oxalyl chloride.
2

Chlorosulfonium Ion Formation

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Nucleophillic attack using DMSO Resonance structure.

DMSO Resonance Structure performs Nucleophilic Attack, Chloride Ion acts as a Leaving Group.

In this step, the newly formed chromium-alcohol complex undergoes protonation. This protonation stabilizes the intermediate, preparing it for further rearrangement and facilitating the subsequent steps in the oxidation process.
3

Chlorodimethyl Sulfonium Ion and Byproduct Formation

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Chlorodimethyl Sulfonium Ion Formation.

The nucleophilic attack initiates proton transfer within the Chlorosulfonium Ion to form Chlorodimethyl Sulfonium Ion its byproduct.

In this step, the Chlorosulfonium Ion decomposes after proton transfer is initiated from the chloride ion. This action releases carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and a chloride ion.
4

Alcohol and Base Addition

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Addition of the Primary Alcohol and 2 equivalents of TEA (Triethylamine).

This process produces a alkoxysulfonium ion intermediate. However the octet rule is violated in the newly produced ion, so TEA (Triethylamine) is needed to stabilize the molecule for further transformation.

In this step, the primary alcohol is added and SN2 substitution occurs. Chloride is a good leaving group and leaves the Chlorosulfonium Ion to produce alkoxysulfonium ion intermediate. Next, 2 equivalents of TEA (Triethylamine) is added to neutralize changes and stabilize the intermediate. This eventually forms a sulfur ylide.
5

Ylide Formation and Intramolecular Elimination

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Aldehyde product and DMS byproduct Formation.

Sulfur Ylide decomposes to form DMS and the desired aldehyde product.

The Sulfur ylide undergoes intramolecular elimination to cleave the ylide into the desired product and by-products.

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Finding the Product for a 2° Alcohol

This section is a brief overview on how to find the product for a 2° Alcohol (Secondary) using a example from a real scientific research paper.
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Propose a Mechanism for this Reaction 3

Oxidation of a secondary alcohol intermediate to an ketone. The groundwork to determine the product is similar to how a primary alcohol is converted.
1

Identify the Right Reagents

Hero LightDMSO is used alongside the preferred oxidizing agent Oxalyl chloride, TEA (Triethylamine) and DCM.
Once again if you missed the Background section on the Swern Oxidation landing page, please check it out. It’s highly recommended to review the information as it covers the key characteristics the reaction and the reactants.
2

Identify the Key Features of the Compound

Alcohol TypeHero LightThese are the 3 main types of alcohols:
  • Primary
  • Secondary
  • Tertiary
Tertiary alcohols cannot go through Swern oxidation.
  • Primary alcohols can go through Swern Oxidation to become an Aldehyde.
By identifying the Alcohol Type, you now know the product to expect.
3

Identifying Side Chains and Alcohol Conversion

Hero Light

Tracking Side Chains and Alcohol Conversion.

In Swern oxidation of primary alcohols, the process involves assigning one side chain (R) to understand the reaction better.

The colored side chain represents an R group that remains unchanged during the reaction. The alcohol group is selectively oxidized to form an aldehyde. For educational purposes, we conceptually assign the non-alcohol group as R (Side chain) to visualize the changes and reconstruct the molecule post-reaction.
The molecule isn’t taken apart during the reaction, but for understanding the process, we conceptually take it apart to visualize the changes. This allows for easy reconstruction of the molecule after oxidation, emphasizing the selective nature of the reaction for educational purposes.
Guide to Side Chains
  1. Assign the Side Chain (R): Identify the non-alcohol part of the molecule and assign it as the placeholder ‘R’ or side chain.
  2. Understand Its Role: This placeholder helps track the unchanged part of the molecule, aiding in visualizing the structure before and after the reaction.
  3. Focus on the Reaction Center: The primary alcohol is selectively oxidized to form an aldehyde. The placeholder shows how the structure is altered.
  4. Reassign the Side Chain: After the reaction, reattach the placeholder R to the new aldehyde, demonstrating the unchanged nature of the side chain.
Once you’ve identified the correct reaction and product, you can now proceed to doing the mechanism.

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Mechanism for 2° Alcohol

This section is a brief overview on how to perform the mechanism for a 2° Alcohol (Secondary) using the example from above.
1

DMSO undergoes Resonance

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Resonance forms of DMSO.

DMSO is capable of undergoing resonance. This is important for the next step.

In the first step of Swern Oxidation, DMSO undergoes resonance to prepare the DMSO to perform a nucleophilic attack on Oxalyl chloride.
2

Chlorosulfonium Ion Formation

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Nucleophillic attack using DMSO Resonance structure.

DMSO Resonance Structure performs Nucleophilic Attack, Chloride Ion acts as a Leaving Group.

In this step, the newly formed chromium-alcohol complex undergoes protonation. This protonation stabilizes the intermediate, preparing it for further rearrangement and facilitating the subsequent steps in the oxidation process.
3

Chlorodimethyl Sulfonium Ion and Byproduct Formation

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Chlorodimethyl Sulfonium Ion Formation.

The nucleophilic attack initiates proton transfer within the Chlorosulfonium Ion to form Chlorodimethyl Sulfonium Ion its byproduct.

In this step, the Chlorosulfonium Ion decomposes after proton transfer is initiated from the chloride ion. This action releases carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and a chloride ion.
4

Alcohol and Base Addition

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Addition of the Secondary Alcohol and 2 equivalents of TEA (Triethylamine).

This process produces a alkoxysulfonium ion intermediate. However the octet rule is violated in the newly produced ion, so TEA (Triethylamine) is needed to stabilize the molecule for further transformation. This process is the same as the primary alcohol, except there is an additional side chain.

In this step, the secondary alcohol is added and SN2 substitution occurs. Chloride is a good leaving group and leaves the Chlorosulfonium Ion to produce alkoxysulfonium ion intermediate. Next, 2 equivalents of TEA (Triethylamine) is added to neutralize changes and stabilize the intermediate. This eventually forms a sulfur ylide.
5

Ylide Formation and Intramolecular Elimination

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Ketone product and DMS byproduct Formation.

Sulfur Ylide decomposes to form DMS and the desired ketone product.

The Sulfur ylide undergoes intramolecular elimination to cleave the ylide into the desired product and by-products.

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Sample Problems

Test your Knowledge.

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Question 1

Predict the Product. Hero Light

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Question 2

Propose a Mechanism for this Reaction. Hero Light
Hint: Do not confuse this with the first example

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Summary

The reaction entry summary. Find the general scheme and full summarized mechanisms here.

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General Scheme

This section briefly summarizes what can and cannot undergo reactions. Hero Light
  • 1° Alcohols (Primary) get oxidized to Aldehydes.
  • 2° Alcohols (Secondary) get oxidized to Ketones.
  • 3° Alcohols (Tertiary) do not get oxidized at all.

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General Mechanism

This section briefly summarizes steps to find the product and perform the mechanisms. Quick steps to finding the product for any alcohol
  1. Identify the reagents.
  2. Assign side chains (non alcohol part).
  3. Selectively convert Alcohol to correct product based on alcohol type. Nothing else.
  4. Keep the side chains (non alcohol part) the same and piece together the full molecule together again.
Always remember to repeatedly practice your mechanisms and getting your reagents correct. Take advantage of our materials and/or keep practicing on a whiteboard or paper until you get it right every single time.

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References

Omura Swern Light

  1. Omura, K.; Swern, D. Oxidation of Alcohols by “Activated” Dimethyl Sulfoxide. A Preparative, Steric and Mechanistic Study. Tetrahedron 1978, 34 (11), 1651–1660. DOI: 10.1016/0040-4020(78)80197-5

Taxol Light

  1. Mukaiyama, T.; Shiina, I.; Iwadare, H.; Saitoh, M.; Nishimura, T.; Ohkawa, N.; Sakoh, H.; Nishimura, K.; Tani, Y.-i.; Hasegawa, M.; Yamada, K.; Saitoh, K. Asymmetric Total Synthesis of Taxol. Chem. Eur. J. 1999, 5 (1), 121–161. DOI: 10.1002/(SICI)1521-3765(19990104)5:1<121::AID-CHEM121>3.0.CO;2-O

  1. Stork, G.; Niu, D.; Fujimoto, A.; Koft, E. R.; Balkovec, J. M.; Tata, J. R.; Dake, G. R. The First Stereoselective Total Synthesis of Quinine. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2001, 123 (14), 3239–3242. DOI: 10.1021/ja004325r

Pentacycloanammoxic Acid Light

  1. Mascitti, V.; Corey, E. J. Total Synthesis of (±)-Pentacycloanammoxic Acid. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2004, 126 (48), 15664–15665. DOI: 10.1021/ja044089a