Collect. Czech. Chem. Commun. 1982, 47, 1494-1502
https://doi.org/10.1135/cccc19821494

Oxidation of polysubstituted pyridinium salts

Petr Nesvadba and Josef Kuthan

Department of Organic Chemistry, Prague Institute of Chemical Technology, 166 28 Prague 6

Abstract

Oxidation of 1-substituted 2,4,6-triphenylpyridinium salts Ia-Ij with potassium ferricyanide in an alkaline medium was accompanied by contraction of the pyridine ring and formation of 1,2,3,5-tetrasubstituted pyrroles II. The derivative IIf underwent facile electrophilic substitution in the position 4. Contrary to compounds Ia-Ij, the 1-substituted-2,6-diphenylpyridinium salts IIIa,b were oxidized to give a complex reaction mixture containing 4-pyridones IVa,b.