Michel Golfier

Highly selective oxidations of diols by silver carbonate

The oxidation of α-, β-, and γ-di-secondary diols by silver carbonate on celite leads to hydroxy-ketones.

A new synthesis of lactones: application to (±)-mevalonolactone

Silver carbonate on celite converts primary 1,4-, 1,5-, and 1,6- diols into the corresponding lactones in high yield.

A double ionic mechanism for the Chapman-like rearrangement of imino-ethers to N-alkylmides, in the solid state or in the melt. Theoretical and experimental evidence

Using 5-methoxy-2-aryl-1,3,4-oxadiazoles as models it was shown that the thermal rearrangement of imino-ethers to N-alkylamides proceeds through a double ionic mechanism; kinetic measurements in the solid state and in the melt give apparent activation energies that support ab initio calculated activation enthalpies.

An unusually fast Chapman-like thermal rearrangement in the solid state

Some 5-methoxy-2-aryl-1,3,4-oxadiazoles undergo a 1,3 O-to-N thermal rearrangement of the methyl group, which takes place unusually easily, and much faster in the solid state than in the melt.

Silver Carbonate on Celite Oxidations

Reactions that take place under heterogeneous conditions suffer from a major drawback from the point of view of theoreticians, since generally speaking their mechanism is almost totally unknown and very likely difficult to prove beyond reasonable doubt.