The anion is generated by dissolving cerium oxide| in hot concentrated HNO3. The salt consists of the anion and a pair of NH4+ counter ions. The ammonium ions are not involved in the oxidising reactions of this salt. In the anion each nitrate group is chelated to the cerium atom in a bidentate manner as shown below: The anion has Th molecular symmetry. The CeO12coredefines an icosahedron. Ce4+ is a strong one-electron oxidizing agent. In terms of its redox potential it is even stronger oxidizing agent than Cl2. Few shelf-stable reagents are stronger oxidants. In the redox process Ce is converted to Ce, a one-electron change, signaled by the fading of the solution color from orange to a pale yellow.
In organic synthesis, CAN is useful as an oxidant for many functional groups as well as C–H bonds, especially those that are benzylic. Alkenes undergo dinitroxylation, although the outcome is solvent-dependent. Quinones are produced from catechols and hydroquinones and even nitroalkanes are oxidized. CAN provides an alternative to the Nef reaction; for example, for ketomacrolide synthesis where complicating side reactions usually encountered using other reagents. Oxidative halogenation can be promoted by CAN as an in situ oxidant for benzylic bromination, and the iodination of ketones and uracil derivatives.
For the synthesis of heterocycles
Catalytic amounts of aqueous CAN allow the efficient synthesis of quinoxaline derivatives. Quinoxalines are known for their applications as dyes, organic semiconductors, and DNA cleaving agents. These derivatives are also components in antibiotics such as echinomycin and actinomycin. The CAN-catalyzed three-component reaction between anilines and alkyl vinyl ethers provides an efficient entry into 2-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinolines and the corresponding quinolines obtained by their aromatization.
As a deprotection reagent
CAN is traditionally used to release organic ligands from metal carbonyls. In the process, the metal is oxidised, CO is evolved, and the organic ligand is released for further manipulation. For example, with the Wulff–Dötz reaction an alkyne, carbon monoxide, and a chromium carbene are combined to form a chromium half-sandwich complex and the phenol ligand can be isolated by mild CAN oxidation. CAN is used to cleave para-methoxybenzyl and 3,4-dimethoxybenzyl ethers, which are protecting groups for alcohols. Two equivalents of CAN are required for each equivalent of para-methoxybenzyl ether. The alcohol is released, and the para-methoxybenzyl ether converts to para-methoxybenzaldehyde. The balanced equation is as follows:
