Autocatalytic Oxidation of Ethers with Sodium Bromate

Sodium and potassium bromate are stable and easily stored oxidants. They can oxidize both open and cyclic ethers in aqueous solution at room temperature yielding esters and lactones. Kinetic studies of the oxidation of tetrahydrofuran to γ-butyrolactone indicate that the major active oxidation species is bromine and not bromate. The bromate is only a supporting agent, responsible for the initiation step and supplying bromine molecules by oxidizing bromide ions during the propagation step. In the oxidation of tetrahydrofuran, high yields of γ-butyrolactone were obtained.