Introduction
<P>Sodium periodate (sodium metaperiodate), NaIO
4 (mp 300 °C; Figure 1), is commercially available and is applied mainly in aqueous
or aqueous-alcoholic solutions. Like the free periodic acid, sodium periodate cleaves
vicinal diols to carbonyl compounds.
[
1]
The popularity stems from its specificity, its reactivity under neutral and mild conditions
which is compatible with a wide range of functionalities, its stability, and its low
cost.
[
2]
Sulfides are transformed by sodium periodate into sulfoxides. It is also a reoxidant
of lower-valency ruthenium in oxidations with ruthenium tetroxide.
[
3]
</P>
Figure 1
<P>Tetrabutylammonium periodate, (
n-Bu)
4NIO
4 (mp 175 °C), which is usually prepared in situ from tetrabutylammonium hydrogen
sulfate and sodium periodate,
[
4]
is useful in two-phase systems, because it dissolves in chloroform and other organic
solvents.
[
3]
It is used in homogeneous oxidations of sulfides, 2-hydroxy acids, and α-bromoketones.
[
5]
</P>