Molecular Iodine in Aqueous Ammonia: Oxidative Fragmentation of Oxiranes to Nitriles

Oxiranes undergo oxidative fragmentation, when treated with iodine in aqueous ammonia, to give nitriles. The reaction goes via formation of 1,2-amino alcohols as intermediates followed by C–C bond cleavage. Advantages of the method are use of off-the-shelf nonexplosive, unlike previously used potentially explosive o-iodoxybenzoic acid, reagents, mild reaction conditions, and easy work-up procedure.